One of our seniors volunteered to discuss the importance of the power of memory. As memory stands as a critical element for achieving good grades, excelling in quizzes, and participating in speeches and recitations, we welcomed his insights. Here are some of the ideas he shared with us He commenced with an autobiographical note upon his promotion to the tenth standard, he received an award for General Proficiency The prize presented to him was a book titled Improve Your Memory by Ron Fry, which spurred him to delve further into this cognitive ability. He attributed his modest achievements chiefly to his capacity to recall what he had learned. He stressed that the swiftness of recall determines one’s academic accomplishments, which has unfortunately become a significant challenge for many students.

Identified causes for poor memory

He pinpointed two primary causes for difficulties in memory retention. A lack of concentration, and dependence on technology. Developed nations view accessing reliable sources as the key learning strategy, resulting in a diminished emphasis on memory. Yet, achievers in academics and competitive examinations in our country attest that memory plays a pivotal role

Strategies and techniques for memory improvement

Turning his attention to the book he mentioned that it recommends several simple and practical steps to remember and retain, without spending a ‘mind-numbing amount of time and effort while some possess a natural ability to store and retrieve information, the majority must make conscious efforts. One strategy endorsed by the writer involves establishing ‘tags’ or ‘codes’ When bombarded with data, our brains need to be trained to make deliberate choices about what to retain. The chosen information must be ‘tagged alongside known elements and rehearsed repeatedly to be stored in long-term memory, enabling easy retrieval when needed.

Moreover, the book introduces other practical memory methods. The “chain link” technique facilitates the recall of items that appear in sequence, linking dates with events, scientific terms with their meanings, or related facts and objects. Another method involves using rhyme schemes, which, despite their seemingly trivial nature, can aid in remembering information over extended periods..

For instance, it advises starting with skimming to gain an overview of any text, followed by a slower, more detailed reading process. Effective reading methods, such as highlighting and note-taking, are recommended. While speed-reading might suffice for understanding fiction, subjects like mathematics, economics, and science require a deeper comprehension. Readers should employ diverse strategies based on text genres to enhance their efficiency in reading.