A Student's Memory

For most classes, the tests are memorization by definition. There are many different ways that students memorize information, depending on their learning preferences. I am a kinesthetic and visual learner. For the majority of my classes, the information is definition and terms. To study, I use flashcards and work with a partner. These flashcards allow me to memorize the information by seeing one side of the card, and then learning the definition on the back. Even by reading the flashcard to my study partner helps me remember it due to the repetition. After learning the definitions, I usually try to think of an easier that helps me remember this. This is usually by an image, or some type of acronym.

One of the strategies I used for memorizing was the Link System. The Link system is when you take a word or concept, and find something that this word sounds or looks like, and also create an absurd picture. Being a kinesthetic and visual learner, this helps me see the image or think of an acronym to memorize it easier. For my CFS 388 class (Human Sexuality), I used an acronym to help me the steps in a relationship. The steps were; Attraction, Building, Continuation, Deterioration, and Ending (ABCDEs). The acronym I made for the five steps was: A Brown Cow Drove Elephants. This helps me remember the first letter for each part of a relationship. When I took the test, I thought about that phrase and how I connected it to the five steps. I also used this in my American history class for the midterm when having to memorize many of the Presidents. I linked the different presidents and people to important things that they accomplished during their time period. The phrases helped me when it came to test time because I would recite them when looking at the person's name.

Another technique I used was Visualization. Visualization is when you write down the information you need to learn, and then draw an unusual image to remember it. This technique is perfect for me because I am able to see the the definition through a picture. When thinking about this picture on the test, I can make a definition out of it. For my Human sexuality test, I used a picture to describe the definition of the Feminist theory. I drew about 6 stick figure men and one woman to tell me that the definition is the acceptance of the male as the norm. I also used Visualization for my Earth Science class by drawing the directions of the rock faults. Remembering the directions of the arrows helped me figure out which type of fault it was.

Both of these techniques helped me learn because they allowed me to visualize the definition or think of the definition as a funny term. Memory is a key part in doing well on tests and quizzes, and using images allows me to remember more information while studying. They are the most beneficial techniques to use due to me being a Kinesthetic and Visual learner.