Question

The textbook suggests that to study smarter and improve memory, one should 1) organize information, 2) give oneself time, 3) make connections, and 4) get some rest. Justify this advice making explicit reference to such concepts as elaborative encoding and distributed practice.

Answer 1

Memory is the process by whih we encode, store and retrieve information As it contains so many elements to it, it is quite a complicated process. There are many ways to enhance out memory.

1. Organize information is a process called mnemonics. This is a vastly use techniqque for the retention of information. This is technique in which information is organized in a way that is is likely to be remembered. For example when a musician learns that the staff spells FACE it is easier for him to remember.

2. Give oneself time is a usual advice given where we are to give our mind a break. This is because if we give our mind a break it will take time to process the information so that it can move on to the next stage. Memory involves different times of memory and if it has to go from the shot term memory to the long term memory the information has to be processes so that it can move on to the next permanent phase with the help of the working memory. This can done with the process of chunnking which is a meaningful grouping of words or things to be remembered that can be stored as a unit in short term memory. For example the characters

PBSFOXCNNABCCBSMTVNBD

They can be chunked like

PBS FOX CNN ABC CBS MTV NBC

This way they memory is more remembered after a given period of time.

3. Make connections is very important in our memory as it helps retreive alot of information which could be used. This type of memory is called the semantic meory where we make mental representaion of clusters of intereconnected information. This way when we are learning somethiig it would help us to remember that information based on the other things we have connected it too.

4. Getting some rest before actually using our stored memory is very important. Especially when we have to study for a testa dn we hear get some rest it is very important. Just as our body needs rest after a tiring day so does our brain after it has been filled with so much information. It needs a night sleep or some break in order to process the information that it has been storing. This way they information is stored as it is taken in and does not get all jumbled up. For example like a computer or laptop when we are working alor on it we must give it a break or it gets too heated and might switch off. There fore that break is important for it to take it the information or we could end up losing everything.