Mp3 Script Critical Reading for Graduate Students Learning Strategies Development, Queen’s University, Kingston Presentation Three: Retaining and Recalling Written Information Did you know that 61% of what you read is lost after the first hour and 100% is lost after 24 hours unless you…do something with the information. This presentation outlines strategies to assist you in retaining and recalling textual information. Retention Strategies Retention of read information is helped by: • Taking a useful note which you will review/use later • Visualizing information • Hearing the information • Colour coding the information Students often ask if they should highlight their text. If used systematically (within a colour coding system), highlighting can quickly draw the eye to essential text. However, highlighting can be a procrastination tactic to avoid really understanding and working with the text. Highlighting is often marking what you should learn versus learning it now. Because new information and learning are very quickly lost unless used, note-making is critical to retention. The following two slides provide two very different, yet complimentary note-making system. 1. Cornell Method The Cornell system produces an excellent note from which you can review ideas. It incorporates a section for traditional notes with a “Cue Column” and a “Summary” section. The Cue Column, on the left of the page, allows the note-maker to write key terms, concepts, sequences, and/or questions that will cue the brain to remember the detail notes. The bottom section of the page is reserved for a brief summary which is very useful when reviewing notes. It can be used very effectively with the SQ4R system. At the “Q” step of SQ4R, the note-maker writes down his or her question in the ‘Cue Column’. Questions in the Cue Column are then used in the revision and review stages. Note-making by Mind-mapping Mind maps are one of the most powerful visual tools for outlining a concept. They are particularly effective because constructing a mind map is a whole brain activity. In other words, it uses words stimulates the a left-brain while shapes and colours stimulate the right-brain thus producing better learning. How will making a mind map help you read and retain information? A mind map… • Shows relationships between ideas quickly, vividly, accurately • Using key words, it condenses a large subject into a small area • Moves thinking from the general to the specific: starting by choosing a main topic and focusing on the big picture and then zero in on the subordinate ideas • Can help you review quickly by looking at key words • Improves long-term memory: the picture enters your memory quickly and when visualized, will incite memory. Try making your mind map while you read. As you construct the map, you actively engage in decision-making and analysis. That is, distinguishes main ideas from details, deciding the interconnections between ideas, etc. In other words, you are analyzing and reflecting while you are reading. Writing notes is not the only way to assist in retention. Using the auditory modality will also help you retain information. Reading out loud is an excellent way to assist your memory. Getting your vocal chords involved in thinking, forces the neurotransmitters of the brain to fire away in another pattern, creating additional memory pathways. Listening to music while reading can relax your brain so you are more receptive to learning. Studies have shown that certain high-frequency music accelerates learning and improves memory. For more information on “memory music”, go to our website and find the online module entitled “Improving Your Memory”. This is the last presentation in our four part series on critical reading for graduate students. We wish you the best of luck in all your academic reading.