High School Wellness Talk with LLB

The ability to remember learned facts is a skill

Learning is a wonderful experience. I know by now you have a wonderful wealth of knowledge from all the lesrning you have done so far. But you have to store all this knowledge for you to use in the future. Every new piece of information you learn is piled upon what you have learned previously- that means you dare not forget previous facts you have learned. On top of that, you still have to write tests snd exams and this is where your ability to remember is tested.

So that means your memory must be top class for it to remember and deliver all learned material. So what is memory? you may ask. Let’s see…

MEMORY

Definition

Memory is the cognitive process by which you store and retrieve information for immediate or future use. It is important for our normal daily survival that we remember activities in our daily life and we are also able to acquire information of our daily lessons in school.

CLASSIFICATION OF MEMORY

Short term memory: This is responsible for your everyday consciousness. You remember to wake up in the morning and prepare for school due to your intact short term memory. Information does not stay permanently in short term memory, it is replaced when new information comes and it is forgotten. Long term memory : This refers to the brain system for storing information over long periods, it can range from a few days to an entire lifetime. It has huge capacity and holds facts, life events, physical and cognitive skills. The inability to retrieve previously stored information is referred to as forgetting.

TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

Planning your study timetable: It is important to have a structured schedule when studying for the exams, and this must be inclusive of your specific subjects assigned to available days. The planning have to be done now, don’t wait for the last minute, for the sake of preventing last minute anxiety which will impact negatively on your memory. Also prioritize subjects based on difficulty and exam dates.

Organize your study area: To avoid distraction, your study area needs to be tidy (free of clutter) because this causes distraction. Ensure that the environment is comfortable enough, light and temperature, desk and upright seat. Put your study materials together to avoid moving around which disturbs concentration. You can also play a soft music in the background (if it helps for you).

Avoid distraction and interference: Choose the time of the day when there is minimal distraction or movements in the house. Switch off the phone so that there are no incoming calls and messages. Schedule your friends visits for breaks to minimize distractions. This helps with the focus. Break into chunks: Break the subject matter into small, manageable parts so you can have smart breaks in between. It is advisable to study for 25-50 minutes, followed by 5-10 minutes breaks to rest your mind. Divide large topics into smaller portions over multiple days, to prevent cramming. Trying to learn too much at once will only result in a tired, unfocused brain. Read for understanding and meaning: When studying textbooks and notes, make sure that you understand the meaning of the words, this helps you to apply them in real life practice and you’ll be in a better position to recall them in future.

Repetition:

Repetition is the best strategy to retaining information you have to learn.

Mnemonics:

Mnemonics are strategies or techniques that improve the retrieval of material laid down in memory. These are memory tools or tricks that help you to remember concepts, names, facts and lists, e.g. acronyms, where you use first letters of the words, or use the words in rhymes like in poems. They help to memorize concepts that are difficult to remember, but you have to attach a meaning to them that you will easily understand.

Be an active learner:

When studying textbooks and notes, it’s advisable to stop and recall what you have read about after a paragraph or few lines, explain the information in your own words, or even write a summary of the information. Ask yourself questions about the information you have read and test your answers referring to the notes. It helps to test your understanding of the content, and it stays better in your memory.

Sleep:

Sleep for at least 8hrs every night, your brain processes information during sleep and this is good for memory.

Exercise:

Physical exercise is essential for brain function and mental health. Studying for exams is similar to a strenuous exercise, so you need to be physically prepared. It’s also good for memory.

Eat a balanced diet:

Eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water are important for brain function. Your brain needs energy to process information, avoid crush junk foods.

Memory techniques:

Teach the acquired information to anyone who can listen, or say it loud to yourself. This involves several senses at once, sight, hearing, verbalizing and it’s good for information processing and memory. Colouring and pictures are also helpful, using mind maps, putting flashcards where they are easily visible is also helpful for memory. Ask questions if not clear: It is important to seek clarity for concepts that are not clear. Teachers are there to assist you with that, even fellow students can be helpful to clarify tricky subject matter during group discussions. It is better understanding concepts from the beginning so that you can remember them well in the future.

If overwhelmed, talk to someone: Do not put yourself under unnecessary pressure, trying to study when your brain is tired. Take time to talk to someone, a teacher, parents, friend or siblings. It is good to de-stress when feeling overwhelmed.

Use old question papers to familiarize yourself and build speed. It is helpful to simulate real exam conditions using old question papers and a timer. This helps to train your brain to think faster and you become less anxious during the actual exam period.

Cheers. Stay healthy, clean and of sound mind.

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