What are the best memorisation techniques

1. Mnemonics, Associations and Chunking

2. Feynman's method

3. The loci method or Mind Palace

4. Mind mapping

5. Flashcards

6. The Blurting Method

7. Spaced repetition

Memory techniques are methods aimed at improving an individual's ability to remember and retain information. They are particularly useful for students, but can be used by anyone looking to improve their memory.

It is important to note that each memory technique may be effective for different individuals and situations. It is recommended to try different techniques to find the ones that best suit your needs and way of functioning.

Here are some of the best memory techniques:

1. Mnemonics, Associations and chunking

Mnemonics are techniques that help to memorise information by associating it with images, phrases, rhymes, numbers, lists, etc. Here are some examples of how mnemonics are used:

• Word mnemonic: The first letter of each word in the sentence corresponds to the first letter of the word we want to remember. For example "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas" (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto).
• Name mnemonics: The aim is to construct a word from the first letter or two of the words to be memorised. For example: VIBGYOR (or ROY G BIV) for the colours of the rainbow or HOMES (Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Superior) the Great Lakes.
• Transforming numbers into words: The aim is to construct words where the number of letters corresponds to a number. This sentence "How I wish I could calculate pi" gives you pi to seven places (3,141 592).
• The Chunking Method: Break it down. To memorise a long piece of content, instead of tackling it all at once, start by dividing it into smaller, more manageable groups. For example, you can divide Pi into groups of 3 digits. If you want to memorise the first decimal places of Pi, start with 3.1415926535 and divide it up as follows: 3.14, 15.92, 65.35, etc. For each group of numbers, create mnemonic associations that are fun and memorable. Repeat the groups regularly, adding new ones as you go along.

Going further:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonic

2. Feynman's method

The Feynman method takes its name from Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize winner in physics known for his ability to simplify complex concepts. This method is based on the fundamental idea that explaining a concept to someone else is the best way of ensuring that you really understand it.

Imagine yourself in the position of the learner, the one who wants to understand the concept. Anticipate the questions you might ask and present the information in a progressive and understandable way.

The aim is to climb the rungs of Bloom's taxonomy, which represent different levels of understanding that go beyond mere superficial knowledge. It's all too common to settle for 'false' knowledge, where you recognise words and concepts without grasping their deeper meaning.

By using Feynman's technique, you will quickly discover the grey areas in your knowledge, the points that are not perfectly mastered.

How do I use Feynman's method?

To improve your learning skills, you can start by explaining the concepts you are learning to someone else. However, it's not always easy to find a "guinea pig" available for this task. You can therefore practise on your own by following these three simple steps:

• Explain to a novice: take a sheet of paper, write down the name of the concept you've chosen, and explain it as if you were talking to someone who really doesn't know anything about it. Use simple language, avoid complicated words, and add examples to make it clearer.
• Evaluate your explanation: reread what you've written and identify where you might need more information or where your explanation doesn't seem perfect. Look for sources to improve these points.
• Reorganise and simplify: redo your explanation, trying to make it even simpler. Use words that are easy to understand and make sure that anyone, even those with no knowledge of the subject, can understand.
• Test your explanation with someone: to make sure it's clear, ask someone who doesn't know the subject to read it. Or even better, if you can find an 8 or 9 year old, try explaining it to them to see if they understand.

This may seem like a simple technique, but it can really speed up your learning and quickly reveal any gaps in your knowledge.

If you find it difficult to simplify or if you're inclined to use technical language, try to think like a child. Ask yourself the "why" question several times to deepen your understanding. If you can't explain a detail after the first "why" question, it probably means that your understanding is still superficial.

3. The method of loci or mind palace

The loci method, a fascinating mnemonic technique, is a powerful ally in strengthening your memory and helping you retain important information. Imagine it as a treasure map of your mind, where familiar places become the precious chests where you store your memories.

How do I use the loci method?

• Choose a familiar place. To begin with, choose a place you know well, like your house, your garden, or even your usual route to work. The most important thing is that this place is engraved in your memory, with all its little details.
• Divide it into separate places. Now divide this place into different, well-defined places or objects. For example, in your house, you could choose the kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc. Each place should be unique and easy to remember. Each place must be unique and easy to identify.
• Associate images with the elements you want to remember. The magic of the loci method is to associate vivid mental images with the items you want to remember. For each element you want to remember, create a detailed and amusing image that interacts with one of the places you've chosen. **The more colourful and vivid your image, the better you'll remember it. For example, if you have to remember a shopping list that includes bread, milk and eggs, imagine a baguette swinging in your kitchen, a cow milking itself in your living room, and eggs dancing in your bathroom. Be creative and have fun with the details.
• Create a mental trail. Once you've associated each item with an image, start a mental journey by walking around your familiar place. Start at the first place you've chosen (for example, the kitchen) and visualise the associated image (the breadstick). Then move on to the second place (the living room) and imagine the next scene (the cow).

Continue in this way until you have gone through all the places in your familiar environment, remembering each associated image. This will help you find the elements to remember in the exact order in which you placed them.

Going further: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_of_loci

4. Mind mapping

Mind mapping is a memory technique that uses images and diagrams to represent ideas and information visually and organically.

How do I use mind mapping?

• Creates a central diagram around a subject or theme. The first step in the process is to create a central diagram. Think of it as the starting point for your memory journey. In the centre of the page, write the main topic or theme you want to explore. For example, if you're working on a project, the name of the project could be your central point.
• Add branches for secondary ideas, sub-themes and details. Once you've established your central point, it's time to add branches. These branches are used to connect your secondary ideas, sub-themes and relevant details to your central topic. The branches start from the central point and radiate outwards, creating a tree structure that makes it easier to visualise the relationship between the different elements.
• Use colour, symbols and images for a more memorable representation. Mind mapping allows for creative personalisation. You can use bright colours, symbols and even images to make your mind map more interesting and memorable. For example, you can assign a specific colour to each branch to help you identify categories, or add images or icons that visually summarise the idea or concept you want to remember.

Mind mapping is a powerful method because it exploits the way our brains work naturally. Your mind is inclined to process information visually, and this technique capitalises on that tendency by providing a graphic representation of your thoughts. By organising your ideas clearly and using visual elements, mind mapping makes it easier for you to understand the relationships between different elements, making memorising more effective.

5. Flashcards

Flashcards, those little learning cards, can be a powerful ally in the memorization process. Here's how to incorporate them strategically into your arsenal of tools to maximise the effectiveness of your learning.

How do you create effective flashcards?

• Creating personalised flashcards : The first step is to create your own flashcards. Use index cards or dedicated apps (like Mindfocus.io 😍) to design questions on one side and answers on the other. Make sure each flashcard focuses on a specific idea or concept.
• Focused questions: Formulate specific questions that will guide you towards the desired answer. For example, instead of asking "What is photosynthesis?", ask questions like "What are the products of photosynthesis?" or "What is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?
• Use visual clues: Include visual clues on your flashcards to reinforce visual memory. An image, a diagram or even a colour can serve as powerful visual reminders that make it easier to retrieve information.

6. The blurting method

The blurting method is a simple but effective strategy that involves taking a sheet of paper (or opening a digital document) and writing down everything you know about a given subject, without worrying about order, consistency or errors. In other words, it's like pouring everything in your head onto the page.

How do I use the blank page method?

• Grab a sheet of paper or a digital document: get ready to write.
• Write without interruption: for a period of 5 to 15 minutes, write down everything you know about the subject, without stopping to correct mistakes or look for information.
• Review your work: after you've finished, examine what you've written and compare it with your notes to identify any gaps or mistakes. Use a different coloured pen to add any missing concepts. Now's the time to add to your knowledge!
• Repeat regularly: repeat this method regularly to reinforce your memory until you don't forget anything.

7. Spaced repetition

If you've ever felt the frustration of seeing your efforts to memorise fade like smoke over time, don't worry, you're not alone. We've all experienced this battle against forgetting. However, there is a powerful strategy that can help you overcome this challenge: spaced repetition.

The forgetting curve, highlighted by the German philosopher Hermann Ebbinghaus in the 19th century, is our constant reminder that memory is volatile. According to his research, around 50% of what we remember is erased from our minds in just two days, and this loss continues, albeit less rapidly, over time.

There are exceptions to this rule, such as people with hypermnesia, who remember everything in detail, including their own birth. However, such cases are extremely rare, and most of us have to fight the forgetting curve.

The spaced repetition method is an effective way of fighting the natural forgetting curve and retaining coveted information over the long term.

How do you use spaced repetition?

Imagine that you need to memorise a lesson, vocabulary words or a concept.

• You start by reading the information,
• Then you go over it again, ten minutes after you first learned it.
• Then you revise it again the next day (D+1),
• Then 3 days later (D+3), then a week later (D+7), then after a month (D+30), 3 months (D+90)... This revision scheme follows the Ebbinghaus curve, which shows how our memory works over time.