It doesn't take a genius to figure out that in order to learn how to study effectively you need to learn how to memorize information effectively. The problem is that most people don't know to how to do that. Instead, they just read over their notes 100 times and hope for the best. But let's put an end to that strategy. Let's use chunking to improve our memory recall instead!
Chunking describes the method of grouping together a series of items in order to make remembering each item individually much easier. Make sense? Clear as mud? Chunking usually comes in the form of categories or hierarchies and it can be applied to just about anything - objects, formulas, names, dates, numbers, places, events, symbols, and so on.
For example, you could categorize your list by the first letter of the word or sentence you would like to remember (such as E, N, P or Y - any letter is possible), or by the item type (such as what the item is used for, where it is stored, or what it is related to) or even by how the item is applied (such as math or economic equations).
It is important to keep in mind that whatever way you seek to "chunk" the information should be easily remembered by you. You must not use methods that sound good but for whatever reason you are not very familiar with them or find they can be complex to understand or recall. That would completely defeat the purpose of chunking. So how does this work?
Let's say we have ten items: lamp, bread, sausages, table, strawberries, bananas, basketball, television, soccer, and bean bag. We could chunk them in several ways couldn't we? For example, items you might find in a living room: lamp, table, television, and bean bag. Or how about sports: basketball and soccer. What about things that are edible: bread, sausages, strawberries, and bananas. Even just first letters of the words would be very effective: B - bread, bananas, basketball and bean bag. Followed by S - sausages, strawberries and soccer. Finally, T for Table and Television and L for Lamp.
Obviously this chunking list is quite basic but the reason these are useful is because it creates more memory traces that helps you to prompt your memory and find the data you need. In this instance, if you remember just the letters B, S, T and L you may actually remember all 10 items just by remembering the letters. Or if you remember just "living room, sports, fruit and food" you may also easily remember all 10 items. Keep in mind that this is much more effective than just trying to randomly remember 10 items.
You might this method is a little too simple and want an example using numbers. If so then you're in luck. Get ready to remember the following number - 3112196911222006. Simple right? Now repeat it without looking at it. We're you able to go it? Using chunking you will be able to remember this number without any problems. Let's see how.
First, 3112. Well, this is the date of New Year's Eve each year isn't it? The 31st of December. The 31st of the 12th. 3112. Next - one, nine, six, nine - obviously this is the year man first walked on the moon - 1969. Next comes one and one, or eleven - the first number that cannot be counted on your fingers. Followed by two and two - or 22 - which is double 11! Next comes two, zero, zero, and six. That's 2006. In 2006 Brazil won the soccer world cup. Easy enough to remember?
By using the chunking system for numbers it becomes clear that what you are recalling are stories related to the numbers to form a larger number. You don't have to remember any numbers; you just need to remember the events. Pretty cool isn't it? The date of New Year's Eve, the year man first walked on the moon, one more than your fingers or toes, double that number, and Brazil beats everyone and wins the soccer world cup. 3112 - 1969 -11-22-2206. 3112196911222006. What's hard about that?
Let's not kid ourselves. The technique that we've shown you has been simplified to make it easy for you to understand. But the fact remains that it really works. Chunking works incredibly well and will really assist you by making how to study much easier through memory recall. Try it with your own work or any list you need to remember and watch your recall improve dramatically. Good luck!
Chunking describes the method of grouping together a series of items in order to make remembering each item individually much easier. Make sense? Clear as mud? Chunking usually comes in the form of categories or hierarchies and it can be applied to just about anything - objects, formulas, names, dates, numbers, places, events, symbols, and so on.
For example, you could categorize your list by the first letter of the word or sentence you would like to remember (such as E, N, P or Y - any letter is possible), or by the item type (such as what the item is used for, where it is stored, or what it is related to) or even by how the item is applied (such as math or economic equations).
It is important to keep in mind that whatever way you seek to "chunk" the information should be easily remembered by you. You must not use methods that sound good but for whatever reason you are not very familiar with them or find they can be complex to understand or recall. That would completely defeat the purpose of chunking. So how does this work?
Let's say we have ten items: lamp, bread, sausages, table, strawberries, bananas, basketball, television, soccer, and bean bag. We could chunk them in several ways couldn't we? For example, items you might find in a living room: lamp, table, television, and bean bag. Or how about sports: basketball and soccer. What about things that are edible: bread, sausages, strawberries, and bananas. Even just first letters of the words would be very effective: B - bread, bananas, basketball and bean bag. Followed by S - sausages, strawberries and soccer. Finally, T for Table and Television and L for Lamp.
Obviously this chunking list is quite basic but the reason these are useful is because it creates more memory traces that helps you to prompt your memory and find the data you need. In this instance, if you remember just the letters B, S, T and L you may actually remember all 10 items just by remembering the letters. Or if you remember just "living room, sports, fruit and food" you may also easily remember all 10 items. Keep in mind that this is much more effective than just trying to randomly remember 10 items.
You might this method is a little too simple and want an example using numbers. If so then you're in luck. Get ready to remember the following number - 3112196911222006. Simple right? Now repeat it without looking at it. We're you able to go it? Using chunking you will be able to remember this number without any problems. Let's see how.
First, 3112. Well, this is the date of New Year's Eve each year isn't it? The 31st of December. The 31st of the 12th. 3112. Next - one, nine, six, nine - obviously this is the year man first walked on the moon - 1969. Next comes one and one, or eleven - the first number that cannot be counted on your fingers. Followed by two and two - or 22 - which is double 11! Next comes two, zero, zero, and six. That's 2006. In 2006 Brazil won the soccer world cup. Easy enough to remember?
By using the chunking system for numbers it becomes clear that what you are recalling are stories related to the numbers to form a larger number. You don't have to remember any numbers; you just need to remember the events. Pretty cool isn't it? The date of New Year's Eve, the year man first walked on the moon, one more than your fingers or toes, double that number, and Brazil beats everyone and wins the soccer world cup. 3112 - 1969 -11-22-2206. 3112196911222006. What's hard about that?
Let's not kid ourselves. The technique that we've shown you has been simplified to make it easy for you to understand. But the fact remains that it really works. Chunking works incredibly well and will really assist you by making how to study much easier through memory recall. Try it with your own work or any list you need to remember and watch your recall improve dramatically. Good luck!
About the Author:
HelpMeToStudy.org is the premier online resource for learning new study skills, transforming your study habits and discovering the best study tips available. We will help you change the way you think about study - and even better - we will show you how to study effectively: How To Study Effectively | Memory Training
