It doesn't take a genius to figure out that in order to learn how to study effectively you need to learn how to memorize information effectively. The problem is that most people don't know to how to do that. Instead, they just read over their notes 100 times and hope for the best. But let's put an end to that strategy. Let's use chunking to improve our memory recall instead!
Chunking is the process of combining the items you need to remember together into larger groups - typically through groups, categories and hierarchies. Items you can "chunk" include objects, names, dates, numbers, places, events, symbols and so on. The list of what you can possibly chunk is virtually endless.
For example, you may like to group items together based on starting with a certain letter (such as the letter B, G, K or Z - or any letter obviously), or based on what type of item it is (like what it's used for or what it's made from) or how this item is applied (like equations).
Whatever groups you use, make sure that the information is meaningful or familiar to you. In other words, don't create groups you won't even remember the group name of! If you do that, you will have no chance of remembering the smaller bits of information that are contained with the groups. Let's take a look at how this might work.
Let's start with a simple list of eight items: bread, sausages, strawberries, bananas, basketball, television, soccer, and bean bag. We could chunk them by the letter B - bread, bananas, basketball and bean bag. We could chunk them by sports - basketball and soccer. We could chunk them by food - bread, sausages, strawberries, and bananas and also by non-food - basketball, television, soccer and bean bag. There are also many other ways this list of items could be chunked.
Obviously this chunking list is quite basic but the reason these are useful is because it creates more memory traces that helps you to prompt your memory and find the data you need. In this instance, if you remember just the letters B, S, T and L you may actually remember all 10 items just by remembering the letters. Or if you remember just "living room, sports, fruit and food" you may also easily remember all 10 items. Keep in mind that this is much more effective than just trying to randomly remember 10 items.
Now let's take things a bit deeper. What about chunking numbers? Let's say you need to remember the following number - 3112196911222006. Say each number one by one. Did you get all that? Now repeat it out aloud without looking at it. Hmm - three, one, one, two - wouldn't have a clue? There was a six somewhere? Not sure? But if we use chunking all of a sudden this becomes much easier.
Firstly we have 3112. If you applied to this number to a date you would get the 31st of December - 3112. Next, 1969 - everyone remembers that this is the year that man first went to the moon. Next comes 11. This is the first number that can't be counted on your fingers or your toes. Next comes 22. Well that's just double 11! Finally, we have 2006 - that's the very same year that Brazil won the world cup of soccer. Pretty simple stuff really!
By using the chunking system for numbers it becomes clear that what you are recalling are stories related to the numbers to form a larger number. You don't have to remember any numbers; you just need to remember the events. Pretty cool isn't it? The date of New Year's Eve, the year man first walked on the moon, one more than your fingers or toes, double that number, and Brazil beats everyone and wins the soccer world cup. 3112 - 1969 -11-22-2206. 3112196911222006. What's hard about that?
Once again, these examples do simplify the process but you can't argue with how effective this method is. So start chunking today and see how much you can remember. You will be amazed! Good luck.
Chunking is the process of combining the items you need to remember together into larger groups - typically through groups, categories and hierarchies. Items you can "chunk" include objects, names, dates, numbers, places, events, symbols and so on. The list of what you can possibly chunk is virtually endless.
For example, you may like to group items together based on starting with a certain letter (such as the letter B, G, K or Z - or any letter obviously), or based on what type of item it is (like what it's used for or what it's made from) or how this item is applied (like equations).
Whatever groups you use, make sure that the information is meaningful or familiar to you. In other words, don't create groups you won't even remember the group name of! If you do that, you will have no chance of remembering the smaller bits of information that are contained with the groups. Let's take a look at how this might work.
Let's start with a simple list of eight items: bread, sausages, strawberries, bananas, basketball, television, soccer, and bean bag. We could chunk them by the letter B - bread, bananas, basketball and bean bag. We could chunk them by sports - basketball and soccer. We could chunk them by food - bread, sausages, strawberries, and bananas and also by non-food - basketball, television, soccer and bean bag. There are also many other ways this list of items could be chunked.
Obviously this chunking list is quite basic but the reason these are useful is because it creates more memory traces that helps you to prompt your memory and find the data you need. In this instance, if you remember just the letters B, S, T and L you may actually remember all 10 items just by remembering the letters. Or if you remember just "living room, sports, fruit and food" you may also easily remember all 10 items. Keep in mind that this is much more effective than just trying to randomly remember 10 items.
Now let's take things a bit deeper. What about chunking numbers? Let's say you need to remember the following number - 3112196911222006. Say each number one by one. Did you get all that? Now repeat it out aloud without looking at it. Hmm - three, one, one, two - wouldn't have a clue? There was a six somewhere? Not sure? But if we use chunking all of a sudden this becomes much easier.
Firstly we have 3112. If you applied to this number to a date you would get the 31st of December - 3112. Next, 1969 - everyone remembers that this is the year that man first went to the moon. Next comes 11. This is the first number that can't be counted on your fingers or your toes. Next comes 22. Well that's just double 11! Finally, we have 2006 - that's the very same year that Brazil won the world cup of soccer. Pretty simple stuff really!
By using the chunking system for numbers it becomes clear that what you are recalling are stories related to the numbers to form a larger number. You don't have to remember any numbers; you just need to remember the events. Pretty cool isn't it? The date of New Year's Eve, the year man first walked on the moon, one more than your fingers or toes, double that number, and Brazil beats everyone and wins the soccer world cup. 3112 - 1969 -11-22-2206. 3112196911222006. What's hard about that?
Once again, these examples do simplify the process but you can't argue with how effective this method is. So start chunking today and see how much you can remember. You will be amazed! Good luck.
About the Author:
HelpMeToStudy.org is the number one resource for learning new study skills, changing your studying habits and finding the best study tips available. We will help you change the way you think about study - and even better - we will show you how to study effectively: How To Study Effectively | Memory Training
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