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Ask Slashdot: How Can I Improve My Memory For Study?
First time accepted submitter Sensei_knight writes "How serendipitous! Today I see Slashdot also has an article linking caffeine to long-term memory, but I digress. Recently I returned to college in my 30s, after battling a childhood sleep disorder, and I now discover staying awake might be the least of my troubles. Now that I failed a few classes I'm trying to analyze and overcome the causes of this recent disaster. Two things are obvious: First, it takes me way too long to complete tasks (as if suffering from time dilation) — tests take me approximately twice the amount of time to finish [and the amount of time it takes to study and do homework is cumulative and unsustainable]. Secondly, I just can't seem to remember a whole lot. I know sleep and memory are very closely related, perhaps that's why I have never been able to commit the times tables to memory. My research on the subject of memory has not been very fruitful, therefore I want to ask for input into which angle/direction I should look into next. As for cognitive speed, I have completely drawn a blank."
Memorizing stuff is pretty central to schooling
Yep. This level of memorization is indeed "schooling"; what it isn't, though, is education.
I'm in a similar situation only older . Here is what is working for me (going from D's to A- and B+'s)
You're older - it will take longer to assimilate information. Plan accordingly - that means studying on the weekend in advance of the class not night before. Ask the professor to point to any large blocks of information that you should commit to memory at the beginning of the semester in preparation.
You are not a sponge - all night-ers are not going to help. Give yourself at least two nights of rest and then test your recall.
Taking twice as long on tests seems on the long end - I take about 1.5x the time of traditional students on tests. Realize that some of them don't know the material either so are just turning in what they can. That said get a learning disability test to see if you do need special considerations (it may just be using a quiet area to take a test with no people around is all you need to focus).
Usually (depending on field) the lower division courses are memorization and the upper division courses show how parts work in systems which is the important aspects.
Try and see your study material in an applied setting. Putting pictures/experience to terms that need to be memorized is vital.
Good luck.
Beware of those who profit off the docile and persecute the unbelievers.
Bullshit. I teach at a university and frequently have students that have trouble with their exams. What the OP should do is go see the Accommodated Services department (or equivalent) at his/her university and see what accommodations can be made. I frequently have students that are able to write exams in separate rooms, on a computer (if it helps them to type rather than write), and with extra time and breaks in the middle of the exam. If someone wants to do a university degree, there is no reason they should be unable to do so.
That's bullshit. I started out with similar troubles, and just had to learn better time management. Skip the time-consuming questions, focus on the fast questions, then go back and work out as much of the time-consuming questions as possible in the time alloted.
Few students do this.
Except that it has been found that one of the single largest predictors of success in the study of math specifically (and I do believe this translates to many other areas) has been whether a person believes in talent and abilities vs learned skills.
That is to say, it was found that people who believe math to be a talent perform worst than people who believe it is a skill that can be mastered with effort.
So if you really think it comes down to "abilities" then just go flip on the TV, you probably aren't going to find abilities in anything if you aren't willing to work at getting them.
"I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
Nonsense. It's only one of my many redeeming qualities.
I really tire of the notion that people do not differ in intelligence. We know it about everything else, from sprinting speed, to artistic talent, to the strength of one's eyesight being inborn, but gods forbid we say that about brains.
Oh no, if we just spend enough money on schools, and feed little Johnny a federal breakfast, we'll find that everyone is smart enough to be an electrical engineer. Even all the little minority kids are geniuses but we lie and say they're not because racism. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. I'm sick of it.
I'm smarter than some people and dumber than others, and no amount of mental gymnastics is going to change that.
That I'm right, and you don't like it, doesn't mean I'm a troll.
Pushing boundaries and becoming more than you presently are should always be the foremost goal of everyone. Does everyone succeed in every endeavor? Of course not. But even the struggle of the journey itself bares fruit. To simply give up and accept only that which is easy would be a tragic waste so much potential.
Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once