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| Winning Strategies > Enhance Your
Retention Capacity |
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Enrolled members will have access
to substantial content on 'Winning Strategies' on the commencement
of the course.
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'Winners don't
do different things, they do things differently' as said by
management guru and Macmillan's celebrated author, Mr. Shiv Khera.
Winning Strategies comprises of a series of articles, which enumerate
the strategies that set winners apart.
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Enhance Your Retention Capacity
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Retention capacity is the ability of
the mind to reproduce the input it has received. This input could
be in the form of text, visuals or audio. The mind conjures up images
and ideas in the memory when our sense organs perceive information.
Memory is logically divided into two sections. The first section
where information is stored initially is called short-term memory.
Usually, information in the short-term memory section is irretrievable
after a period of time. In contrast to the short-term memory section,
there is a section called long-term memory. This memory is non-volatile
and contains information that is primarily transferred from short-term
memory.
Retention capacity relies on the transfer
of information from short-term memory to long-term memory. The process
of transfer of information between these sections is natural. However,
there are certain factors that catalyse the transfer of information
between these two sections and facilitate greater retention. The
following are suggestions to help you remember more effectively.
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Understand
the Material
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When something is understood,
whether it is a formula or a chemical reaction, it is
almost completely learned. Anything thoroughly understood
is well on the way towards being memorised. In the very
process of trying to understand something, the mind
tries to follow the best possible process to fix information
for later reuse. Besides, if you try to understand the
concept that you are learning, the mind will throw up
many questions and doubts. Clearing these doubts and
getting answers to these questions will help you reach
a complete and firm understanding. This would reduce
the chances of being confused about the concept later.
It is suggested that you teach concepts that you are
learning. You could request your family members and
classmates to become your students. This 'teaching'
will help you deepen your own understanding.
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Identify Information
to be Learnt Verbatim
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Certain derivations, formulae,
diagrams etc., need to be memorised and reproduced verbatim
in the examination. It is a good plan to use a symbol
in your notebook to indicate this type of information.
Go over the material several times, maybe while waiting
for teachers in between classes. Write down the material
a few times or recite it aloud. This would help you
retain the information.
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Pay Attention
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Eliminate distractions while
studying. Use earplugs, read aloud and write a summary
of the material in your own words and relate new material
to facts and concepts you already know. This would result
in total involvement and help you focus effectively.
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Develop Interest
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Think about what you are
trying to learn and create an interest in the material
if you wish to memorise it with ease. Which are you
more likely to remember, dialogues from a movie or your
physics derivations? We remember when we decide to remember
and when we have a reason or the motivation to remember.
Develop a strong motivation and associate a good reason
with what you are studying.
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Study Important Items
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Psychological research shows
that the items that you study first in a study session
are most easily remembered. Besides, doing the most
important or most difficult topics first is a good way
to fight against boredom and the tendency of delaying.
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Use Imagery Whenever
Possible
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A picture is worth a thousand
words. The brain is more receptive to imagery. Therefore,
visualise what you read for effective retention. Close
your eyes and get a picture of the concept or the explanation
that you are trying to understand. Read the information
carefully and see the key words underlined. Form mental
images and represent the idea graphically by use of
pictorial or diagrammatic forms. Imagery enhances memorisation
by imprinting the image in the brain.
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Personalise the Material
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Make your own applications,
examples, illustrations, etc., that will help you understand
the material and enable you to use it in the proper
context. Summarise the material and write it or explain
it to someone in your own words.
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Use Key Words
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Make a list of key words
that convey the essence of the study material. Key words
will help you form a variety of associations among the
points you wish to remember.
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Create Exam Questions
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Create questions on the
study material after studying it. This would help you
assess your understanding of the study material and
the probable approach that an examiner might take while
preparing the examination paper. Write the answers to
your own questions. Since you now have the chance, consult
the text or your notes to improve your answers.
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There are certain methods and
specific techniques that one can follow when studying a subject.
A technique consisting of sequential steps is elaborated below.
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Survey: Before reading
the material, take a few minutes to make a preliminary
survey of the material. The goal of this step is simply
to get an overall picture of the nature of the material
and how it is presented. This is like a blue print.
Once it is developed, filling in the details becomes
easier.
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| 2. |
Question: Formulate questions
about the material. If questions are provided at the
end of the chapter, read these questions and be prepared
to answer them after reading the material.
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| 3. |
Read: After performing
steps 1 and 2, read the material. As you read, try to
answer the questions that you formulated in the previous
step. Answering the questions gives you a definite purpose
and direction, which increases your concentration. Once
a purpose for reading the material is established, reading
becomes more interesting and relevant.
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Recite: After reading
the material, recite or restate the material in your
own words, preferably aloud. Reciting aloud is an activity
that exercises the eyes, ears and mouth. Using all your
sense organs enhances your retention capacity. If you
cannot state the important points, return to the material
until you are able to do so. Questioning and reciting
require your active participation and are vital for
effective learning. You cannot daydream while reciting
what you have learnt.
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Review: This step
does not comprise just glancing over the material again
at a later stage. It involves repeating the 'question'
and 'recite' steps at a later date. Forgetting is a
natural process, with the greatest losses occurring
within the first 24 hours of learning. After one day
you will forget 46% of what you read, 79% after 14 days,
and 81% after 28 days. Clearly, it is essential to review
material within one or two days of the initial reading,
with brief additional reviews interspersed in later
weeks. Restate the material in your own words and fill
in the blank spots.
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A systematic system of study gives
the best return on the time you invest, so use these techniques
and observe the enhancement of your retention capacity.
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