UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions

Office of Student Services

Online Academic Success

Memorization Skills and Strategies

One of the most important aspects of memorization is comprehension. "Do you understand what you are trying to memorize?" If comprehension is there it will make the difference between long and short-term memory. Often times students memorize information for exams only and after a short period of time they can not remember the information. This can be costly in many areas of study but could be detrimental in the health profession.

Imagine your memory as a giant filing system, one that you mostly invented on your own. Without your filing system, your memory would be just a jumble of unrelated information, very little of which you could ever retrieve. Your filing system is your way of connecting all of the bits of information in your memory; it is your network of meaning. Do you see where meaning is absolute to memory?

Tips For Memorization

• Bring your experiences into play by relating them to academic ideas and when possible, generate your own examples which will enhance your understanding.

• Don't wait to the last minute to memorize massive information. The increased stress level will stifle comprehension and memorization skills.
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  Use mnemonics. Mnemonics are tricks, rhymes, games that help you remember things.
  

• Use acronyms. An acronym is a word formed by the first letters of other words or items that you want to remember. For example, did you know that SCUBA is an acronym that stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus?
  

• Use flashcards. It is best to use 3 x 5. If larger cards are used, students have a tendency to write too much information on the card. Flashcards are best used for memorizing terminology, techniques, and procedures. Remember: do not write the term and answer on the same side of the flashcard.
  

• Visualization is helpful. Create an image or picture in your mind of what you want to memorize. For example, in anatomy identify and label the bones on a picture of a human skeleton. When recalling, close your eyes and see the skeleton with your labels.
  

• Remember key words. Recalling key words will help you recall the whole item.

These devices and strategies can be very helpful; however, if you spend too much time developing mnemonics for example, it can become a hindrance and re-direct your energy to less productive activities.

Remember that your learning style will impact your mode of memorization. If your are a visual learner, then creating images will work best for you, if you are an auditory learner, then reciting will be best for you, and if tactile or a physical person, combining review with a physical activity will be most productive.