Ask Slashdot: How Can I Improve My Memory For Study? 384
First time accepted submitter Sensei_knight writes "How serendipitous! Today I see Slashdot also has an article linking caffeine to long-term memory, but I digress. Recently I returned to college in my 30s, after battling a childhood sleep disorder, and I now discover staying awake might be the least of my troubles. Now that I failed a few classes I'm trying to analyze and overcome the causes of this recent disaster. Two things are obvious: First, it takes me way too long to complete tasks (as if suffering from time dilation) — tests take me approximately twice the amount of time to finish [and the amount of time it takes to study and do homework is cumulative and unsustainable]. Secondly, I just can't seem to remember a whole lot. I know sleep and memory are very closely related, perhaps that's why I have never been able to commit the times tables to memory. My research on the subject of memory has not been very fruitful, therefore I want to ask for input into which angle/direction I should look into next. As for cognitive speed, I have completely drawn a blank."
Sleep study (Score:2, Insightful)
1. Have you gotten treatment, as an *adult*, for your sleep disorder? (e.g. overnight sleep study, etc.)
2. Do you follow all the best practices for sleep -- e.g. sleep routine, e.g.only use sleeping area for sleep, avoid caffeine, no TV in bed, etc.?
It seems to me you need to address the sleep issue first if it's still ongoing.
Re:Sleep study (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Sleep study (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
I don't think you understand why the joke is funny.
Re:Sleep study (Score:5, Interesting)
I find vigorous sex at bedtime really helps me to fall asleep quickly. Unfortunately, I've been wearing a cast on my hand for the last two weeks and my quality of sleep has really suffered.
Playboy, in the 70s, suggested having your girlfriend give a BJ while your were studying, then the next day, while taking the test, just remember the experience from the night before. They actually had some data to back it up (although I doubt it was statistically valid), and it seemed to only work with someone there was an emotional connection with.
That said, being /., the biggest problem to implement that study technique will be finding a girlfriend.
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Re:Sleep study (Score:5, Funny)
I find vigorous sex at bedtime really helps me to fall asleep quickly. Unfortunately, I've been wearing a cast on my hand for the last two weeks and my quality of sleep has really suffered.
Remind me of one of David Letterman's Top Ten Lists from a long time ago:
Surprises from a recent sex survey:
For teenage boys, the most frequeny fantasy during sex is ..... having a partner!
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While I understand your point, the whole "why remember something I can look up in a book" thing.
Being able to remember stuff is incredibly useful. From simply remembering a schedule (which can be complicated) to remembering how you solved another problem.
I used to know... (Score:5, Funny)
but I forgot.
Re:I used to know... (Score:4, Funny)
That reminds of an old joke ...
"Memory is the second thing to go when you get old.
I would tell you the first but I forgot."
go to a school there is about skills not test cram (Score:2)
go to a school there is about skills not just test cramming
Re:go to a school there is about skills not test c (Score:5, Funny)
See a psychologist. (Score:5, Informative)
First see your physician for a a checkup and make sure it's nothing like Thyroid, diabetes or something phsycial. Then see a psychologist (your doc probably can refer you) and see if they have some advice - and they may refer you to a psychiatrist for medical treatment.
You could have a number of issues from undiagnosed dislexia or depression - depression really screws with learning and memory and being depressed doesn't ncessarilty mean you are bed ridden crying your eyes out.
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Memorizing stuff is pretty central to schooling (Score:2, Insightful)
If you can't do that, then maybe University isn't for you.
Bottom line: not everyone is able to do what most other people can do (hence "dis-abled"), and -- speaking from experience -- must make the best of your limitations.
Re:Memorizing stuff is pretty central to schooling (Score:5, Insightful)
Memorizing stuff is pretty central to schooling
Yep. This level of memorization is indeed "schooling"; what it isn't, though, is education.
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It depends on which level of "education" you are talking about because it sure the hell isn't critical thinking these days!
"A Mathematician's Lament"
http://worrydream.com/refs/Lockhart-MathematiciansLament.pdf [worrydream.com]
and
"The Underground History of American Education"
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/underground/ [johntaylorgatto.com]
Education comes from the latin word "Educare" which means "To draw out that which lies within" not the "fill up with useless facts" paradigm that the current establishment loves.
--
I have professionally shipped
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Education has nothing to do with memorization.
This is a knee-jerk over-reaction to poor educational experiences. Yes some educators throw useless memorization busy-work at students. No, memorization is not useless. Pulling things into fast-cache in wetware makes some forms of cognition possible that are not possible when pulling them off google or other reference material.
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Memory can be incresed by, I know you want to know, both daily exercise and by travelling to different areas, towns, venues to stimulate thinking and logic.
Trying these are basically low cost options to improvement that anyone can do.
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Would you have told Steven Hawking to go home?
If he wanted to be an artists, mechanic, chef, carpenter, etc, etc -- trades which require abilities manifestly beyond his capacity --, then yes, I would have.
Nootropics (Score:5, Informative)
Nootropics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic [wikipedia.org]
Not sure if it's the right band-aid for you. Treat the sleep disorder first.
Re:Nootropics (Score:5, Informative)
Nootropics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic [wikipedia.org]
Not sure if it's the right band-aid for you. Treat the sleep disorder first.
I tried Piracetam [wikipedia.org] for a while... seemed like a safe, cheap miracle drug for memory. And you know what? It does what it says on the tin.... but I stopped taking it. After a while I realized that I remembered all the words to the books I'd been reading. It was awful. I looked at them and thought, I will never read these again. Every book I'd read on it, I ended up getting rid of.
Having your memory force-stuffed isn't all it's cracked up to be. Unless you need to reverse age-related cognitive decline, I don't recommend it.
Logic Puzzles (Score:2)
If you want to try the drug route, I use phosphodatyl choline supplements during crunch time. That's more fo
I know of four means (Score:2)
2) Use smells to associate memories with. When you smell the smell, it will help you remember what you associated with it.
3) Use story chains associations - associate all ten digits with objects, and then to remember a twenty digit number, remember a story about twenty digit's associated objects.
4) Controversial, there are claims that caffeine and adderall (ADD medication) can aid memory. But there are side effects....
Question (Score:2)
I guess the real question is under what conditions are you able to perform well? I think you will need to identify those conditions and focus upont working in those conditions. You may need to work with teachers to develop a schedule which you can work under.
You just may not be able to do well under a normal classroom conditions, and you will need to address that. Good teachers will help where they can and bad teachers will be inflexible, you may need to avoid those.
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I guess the real question is under what conditions are you able to perform well? I think you will need to identify those conditions and focus upon working in those conditions. You may need to work with teachers to develop a schedule which you can work under.
This is the best answer so far, but still incomplete.
You need to talk with the school about this.
And you need to see some doctors, get a full workup on your weaknesses,
then with that information, you can work out an education plan with the school.
It might involve extra time for tests, taking notes on your laptop, extra help with writing papers, etc etc etc.
Good teachers will help where they can and bad teachers will be inflexible, you may need to avoid those.
For the most part, this is true.
But if there's a class you have to take with an inflexible teacher, keep making noise until your problems are addressed a
Diet/Exercise (Score:5, Informative)
There are plenty of chemical/herbal compounds that you can take to improve cognitive abilities. However, aside from sleep with respect to controllable factors the absolute most powerful contributors to cognitive abilities are your diet and exercise. Both eating low quality (unhealthy) food as well as a sedentary lifestyle degrade cognitive performance immensely.
My advise to you would be to ditch McRotten and visit your local gym regularly. As a side benefit you just might find yourself sleeping better too.
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There are plenty of chemical/herbal compounds that you can take to improve cognitive abilities. However, aside from sleep with respect to controllable factors the absolute most powerful contributors to cognitive abilities are your diet and exercise. Both eating low quality (unhealthy) food as well as a sedentary lifestyle degrade cognitive performance immensely.
My advise to you would be to ditch McRotten and visit your local gym regularly. As a side benefit you just might find yourself sleeping better too.
Huh? Talk about a shot in the dark. Your post is about as on-topic as the "You just need to get more sex, Bro", post.
That said, I do agree with both, but neither really address the OPs issue.
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Perhaps you need to re-read the question... He reports that he is slow of mind and has difficulty with recollection then asks for help with this. To what do you point to in my post regarding improving his cognitive abilities as off-topic?
You're assuming that he must have a poor diet. That's just as likely as him having a poor sex life. Neither can be alluded to by details in the parent post.
Maybe he should lay off the weed.
Maybe he should take fish-oil supplements.
Maybe he should get a C-PAP machine.
Ok - I suppose - other than lack of sleep since childhood, there's really not much detail to go on and just about any suggestion is a shot in the dark.
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interaction of mind components (Score:2)
There are different parts of the brain; one which is careful, considerate, and can deal with new tasks but is slow. The other is faster, but sloppier and harder to train. This is instinct. When the two of these work in harmony, the results are great. Train your instinct by many attempts via your considerate mind, with various amounts of attention and varying inputs, but with measurable correctness. Use your deliberate mind to do a quick sanity check on what your instinctual mind presents, but sharpen ways t
adderall (Score:2)
Rail it, all the cool ADHD kids are.
Nature's Hugs... (Score:2)
If Modafinil has any serious downsides, they certainly are subtle ones. Unlike stimulants, which leave you tired but jittery, it just makes you not tired. The amphetamines, of course, are to be treated with respect and moderation(oral doses, ideally sustained release, you aren't trying to get high here); but can,
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The other problem with taking drugs can help you in the short-term, but it is sort of defeats the purpose. You are able to perform well for a short period but you are not able to retain the knowledge very well and you are not being educated so much as you are learning how to cram.
I assume that if you are in the 30's going to school you are trying to get an education, not learn how to cram for tests.
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What I have done for this (Score:5, Interesting)
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2276592/ [nih.gov]
You need a system. Look for classes in the (Score:5, Insightful)
Educational Psychology department at the local U about study strategies/study skills. Usually these are geared toward teachers (how to help their students to develop strategies) but sometimes they're even geared toward students at said U (how to study in college, and so on).
These aren't classes about how to improve your brain, or about theory. They're very meat-and-potatoes: ways to organize note-taking, ways to organize reading activity and coordinate it with note-taking, ways to prepare for exams systematically and so on. What seems a problem of recall may be a problem of cognitive data architecture—not "it's not in there" but rather "you're not putting it in there in a way that lends itself to retrieval later on."
I don't know your case or just how hard it is for you, but it's not uncommon for a broad cross-section of students to have many of the same complaints, and often the remedy is to learn differently (i.e. different, time-tested, sample-studied methods for effectively acquiring, organizing, and storing information) rather than to try to "do mental exercises" or improve some immanent property of themselves.
And it's not common sense—they get down into things like how to lay out a page of notes, in geographical regions of the page; how to key words to paragraphs; how to note pages and where, etc. Very mechanical, technique-style stuff. You may find it helpful.
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Sure, I could tell you the solution... (Score:2)
...but you'd probably just forget it. So why bother?...
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I was going to go with the old Judge Smails quote: "Well, the world needs ditch diggers too."
Memory issue or disorganized? (Score:2)
How much of your class is really about memorization? Maybe you should try reading "Getting things done" by Paul Allen instead.
http://www.davidco.com/ [davidco.com]
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*David Allen
If the original poster had better recall abilities, he would have caught that!
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Hah, well to be fair it was me that corrected my mistake. If you have read the book, you'll also know it has nothing to do with memorization. In fact, it is an organization system that allows you to separate thinking from working, and thus facilitates getting things done. I highly recommend it.
Stop trying to memorize!! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
YES there is LOTS to help! (Score:5, Interesting)
As a person who has gone back to school in his late 20's, I have struggled with some of what you describe. I'm going to just list out a few things I have done or ways I act to help improve my cognitive performance and memory.
Firstly, memory is learned, not innate. Many of the world memory game finalists and champions are ordinary people who started practicing the Method of Loci (Memory Palace, other names as well) as a memorization technique and a couple years later are placing in memory games. I cannot possibly overstate the importance of this technique. With it, I pass hard memorization classes like Orgo and Physiology with straight A's. Without it, I fail. Curiously, I found that once I started using this technique, my overall memory improved considerably.
OK, now a laundry list, in no particular order.
*) Take less classes. If stuff takes more time, allocate accordingly.
*) Nutrition is important. If you are deficient in B12 (many adults are slightly or moderately deficient in this) it will severely affect your cognitive ability and memory. Try daily supplementation with cyanocobalamin for a month. Also vitamin C, as well as eating a balanced diet. Vitamin D supplementation can help quite a bit, and some people (including myself) experience benefit from CoQ10 supplementation.
*) What you eat is important as FUCK. Whatever food you put in your mouth, will take blood away from the brain. Eat simple, nutricious, easily-digested food for breakfast and lunch. If you have bacon and eggs for breakfast, that''s going to suck all the blood out of your brain and you won't be able to think. Try yogurt or smoothies instead, add raisins and nuts. Similarly, if you have a ham sandwich for lunch, your body is going to be digesting that instead of your class material. Don't do that. Eat minimally through the day in order to maximize cognitive function.
*) Hunger is predatory. Being slightly hungry increases memory and processing speed, at least for me. Experiment.
*) Stay away from sugar. Sugar is a drug that makes you fat, dumb, and happy. Minimize sugar intake as much as possible. Also stay away from artificial sweeteners; as bad as sugar is for your brain, it is a lot better than aspartame / nutrasweet / phenylalanine.
*) Eat a well-balanced diet, minimizing processed foods and meats. Eat fruits, vegetables and beans. Some people find it is a good idea to stay well away from grains like rice and wheat. Experiment with your diet and find out what works for you. Universally, processed foods are bad, though.
*) Exercise! This is a huge boost for making your brain work better. If you walk for 20 minutes every morning, your brain will work much better all day.
*) This goes without saying, but stay away from marijuana. It takes several days for the effects of marijuana to fade from your cognitive faculties. If you smoke MJ, save it for academic breaks. (NOTE: plenty of people will disagree with me. No, I will not cite a source because I have none. But if you smoke MJ, stop for a while.)
*) Stay away from alcohol. This drug also takes several days for your brain to recover from. Again, no scientific source, just my personal experience. If you are young and dumb, EtOH and MJ can be fine every night, but when you need to maximise every iota of brain performance that is a different story.
*) Talk to your professors. Also talk to your school's psychiatric counselling. You may be able to get extra time to complete tests if you do suffer from memory or cognitive impairment. Unless you are planning to take the MCAT or GRE or something, most professors are more than happy to make lots of allowances for struggling students. Since you are an older student, I expect teachers will actually be even happier to help you. Most teachers really like having the maturity and motivation of older students in the classroom.
*) Stay away from TV and video games. These interfere with learning. If you spend the day in lectures then spend
Melatonin (Score:2)
If you are still battling sleep problems, try reducing your exposure to light (especially blue light) in the evening. Most particularly, pull yourself away from the computer or the big-screen TV. Use dimmed incandescent bulbs (less blue light) to illuminate the paper you're working with. If you must use a computer, set your monitor for the warmest color balance you can select, and turn it down as far as you can without eyestrain.
Avoiding mentally taxing activities late at night is also helpful, but probably
Learning to Learn (Score:2)
Learning and memorization is like any other skill, you need to practice it. Through High School I had to constantly go over material multiple times (up to 10) before I could remember what I needed for tests. In University, I got it down to a science. I needed three days of study for each course to prepare for exams. I needed to go over the material three times on three different days before it would finally sink in. Of course, having good notes makes a big difference too.
Personally, I found that I took
I also have a sleep disorder (Score:2)
AND I went back to college as well, but I am even older than you.
My disorder has been under control for decades now, but I found similar issues re: studying/retaining info when going back to school.
All I can say is that I found that daily exercise to get my heart up to 2X normal for 10-20 minutes really seemed to help tremendously.
I have an elliptical at home and used that.
If you don't have something like that, consider some other exercises to get your blood moving and in turn help your brain get nourishmen
Study technique (Score:3)
While there are a lot of funny posts to this request, there are some real techniques that help improve one's retention. In no particular order:
1) Get ample sleep and have a regular schedule for sleep
2) Increase the amount of exercise you do (improves blood flow to the brain).
3) Minimize use of alcohol and other recreational drugs
4) Take handwritten notes while in class and while studying (notes must be handwritten, not typed)
5) Drink caffeinated beverages, but not to excess -- too much has a detrimental effect (ADHD meds work even better than caffeine, but require a prescription to be legal)
6) Don't cram for exams, instead study every day at the same time.
7) Leave time to read novels (studies show that reading novels stimulate areas of the brain used for recall in other situations)
One thing that is fairly common in the above is consistency, whether with sleep, study times, etc. Shakespeare said "Consistency, what a rare gem, though art." When it comes to study habits, that is definitely true. Regardless of one's recall ability, the above suggestions, when used consistently, will improve one's capabilities.
Perhaps not a time for DIY (Score:2)
Choose the right tool for the job. The right tool for this job is not Slashdot.
Go see a doctor. A good GP will be able to point you to a specialist who may be able to better pinpoint exactly why you're having these issues and help you sort them out.
Do your research, by all means--you'll need to be your own advocate--but there are people who dedicate their lives to figuring this sort of thing out. Talk to them, not us.
Research, Lifestyle changes, and Specialists (Score:2)
There are a plethora of studies out there tying memory and cognitive function to various things, including diet, sleep, type of learning, etc... Being in my 30's I can empathise with the problem, I just don't seem to pick things up as quickly as I did in my teens and 20's. It's not drastic, but it is noticable.
Some foods have been tied to cognitive function. Read up a little bit here [huffingtonpost.com] and here [trueactivist.com]. Or do some googling for some more stuff. It's interesting that the traditional american diet of burger and fries is
Some suggestions (Score:2)
First of all, google is your friend. This is something that has been studied by many people, and many effective are available for you to use. For example, I happen to like the Method of loci [wikipedia.org] which I use to memorize the main points of speeches and lists.
Different people like different methods, and there's a buffet of effective methods to choose from. Again, google is your friend.
That being said, here's the psychological answer:
If you want to increase your long term memory, you start with the theory of memory
Physical/Mental Harmony (Score:3)
There have been many memory courses and systems taught over the last couple of centuries. I personally liked, "How to Develop a Super Power Memory," by Harry Lorayne. It's old but good, and you only have to read it once. (!!!) http://www.amazon.com/How-Develop-Super-Power-Memory/dp/0811901815 [amazon.com]
There are many others: One of my favorites for studying is, "Brainbooster" by Robert Finkle. It helps organize your memory system specifically for studying. http://www.amazon.com/New-Brainbooster-Hours-Learning-Remembering/dp/0802773524/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389726169&sr=1-6&keywords=brainboosters [amazon.com]
I have over thirty how-to books on memory and learning that revolve around mnemonics. They all teach pretty much the same thing,, and some of them may appeal to you more than others, so check around. The books by Tony Buzan are pretty good, and some of them teach skills besides memory that apply to study.
The book, "Find Your Focus Zone," by Lucy Palladino is terrific, and includes insights into how the brain works and how to make it work better. http://www.yourfocuszone.com/ [yourfocuszone.com]
A lot of people don't study well because they don't take care of their body. I highly recommend, "The Four Hour Body," by Timothy Ferriss. As for learning, His book, "The Four-Hour Chef" is more about learning than cooking. (Tim did a show for Discovery called, "Trial by Fire" which followed him while he learned martial arts skills (Yabasume) equivalent to 20 years' ordinary practice in only about 4 months. He has a background in neuro science, so he seems to have access to a lot of cool resources.) http://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Body-Uncommon-Incredible-Superhuman/dp/030746363X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389726764&sr=1-1&keywords=4+hour+body+by+timothy+ferris [amazon.com]
Again, the connection between brain and body; "Change your Brain-Change your Body" by Daniel Amen. This is very much about Brain Fitness, but also syncs the health and fitness connection. http://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Brain-Body-Always/dp/0307463583 [amazon.com]
For fun read, "Moonwalking with Einstein," by Joshua Foer. It is an overview of the culture of people who train their memory for serious competition. http://www.amazon.com/Moonwalking-Einstein-Science-Remembering-Everything/dp/0143120530/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389726982&sr=1-1&keywords=walking+with+einstein [amazon.com]
Good luck.
Three pillars of good health and energy (Score:4, Informative)
1) Nutrition. Make sure you're giving your body energy.
2) Exercise. Keeps your body capable. Cleans out bad stuff.
3) Sleep. Gives your body time to rebuild itself.
Once you have those figured out, then the answer is practice, and it will improve. Personal anecdote: I used to have horrible memory skills until I memorized a workable vocabulary in another language. Now I can handle memorization no problem.
Scheduling (Score:2)
First, it takes me way too long to complete tasks (as if suffering from time dilation) — tests take me approximately twice the amount of time to finish [and the amount of time it takes to study and do homework is cumulative and unsustainable].
Sounds like you just need to schedule twice the amount of time to complete the tasks. Problem solved. :)
My $0.02 (Score:2)
There are lots of advice, but I'll contribute to it. I have been teaching for a few years and I was a good student before that. So I guess my advice are meaningful.
1/ SLEEP and HEALTH! Sleep is critical. Health is critical. Plenty of people apparently already pointed it out. But your body and your brain do need the sleep. Getting 2 more hours of sleep is typically more important than getting 2 more hours of study. Also, you will sleep better if your optic nerve is not too stimulated before you fall asleep.
Any other drugs? (Score:2)
Besides caffeine? Anything else which may be a factor?
Study habits (Score:2)
Check your study habits. Group study is very effective. Apparently this is the "secret weapon" of Asian students, they tend to form more study groups. I use mnemonics quite a bit, e.g. OIL RIG == Oxidation Is Loss Reduction Is Gain.
Responses are useless (Score:2)
The poster will never remember the answers.
It really sounds like (Score:2)
as if suffering from time dilation (Score:3)
"as if suffering from time dilation"
I started having trouble in my 30s with concentration, memory, and can relate to the feeling of being trapped in some kind of time dilation field. I didn't experience it all the time, more frequently when I was under stress. Until one day the feeling became so bad that I went to the doctor. It was poor diet, I had low blood sugar {stress made it worse}. I cleaned up my diet according to the doctors recommendation and don't experience it any more.
There are any number of things that can effect memory concentration consulting with a doctor that can run tests is probably a better place to start than /. Since you have suffered from sleep problems it may not be as simple as a poor diet but still a doctor is the right place to start.
Training (Score:5, Informative)
Memory and study technique are like all other efforts; they require regular training if you want to master them. There are no magic short cuts or pills that can remove the need of training. Some things like good sleep, exercise and not being stressed helps a lot, but you still need training.
The training will be hard and progress frustratingly slow in the beginning (think overweight ex-chain smoker taking up jogging or cycling; it is tough going in the beginning.).
Reading books is the key to success. You have to read regularly (like every day) and probably for more than an hour per day to make any difference (bed time reading excluded).
Memory is a complex thing, but for studying purposes I find it useful to distinguish between "passive" and "active" memory. "Active" memory is the stuff you can recall and talk about for some length. "Passive" memory is something where you can recall the meaning when you read about it again. Just reading a book usually just produce "passive" memory. Talking about the book (or movie, or show, etc.) afterwards converts the passive memory to active memory.
A good student is one that studies in such a way, that the most important stuff in the texts, are converted from passive to active memory.
There are several classic techniques to convert passive book knowledge into active; discuss the book afterwards with others, write you thoughts about the text down (making notes is useful even if you never look at them again), or use your inner voice to recapitulate what you have just read, or even talk aloud to a fictitious audience. The latter was a major technique for Roman orators because it improves rhetorical skills as well. It will improve your verbal exams considerably if you train the same way.
So try to start out with a small non-fiction book with a subject that you care for. Read a whole chapter, then reread it one page at a time, explaining to yourself with your inner voice using your own words, what was covered in that page and what parts were the important ones. Perhaps underline important passages.
Afterwards, try to recapitulate major points from what your read, perhaps glancing at the index as a memory aid.
Read another book on the subject in the same manner, and compare it underways (from memory only at first) to the first book.
The above will not just convert passive memory to active memory, but it will also help you to actually understand in detail what was written instead of just reading the passage on autopilot without comprehension, it will help you focus on what is important, and the comparison will spawn memory connection between both text, so that one passage from one book, opens up the knowledge from the second book.
The above is very slow and time consuming in the beginning, and it is hard work too. But don't worry, as time goes by, the speed will increase; you will develop your own way of committing the stuff to memory, and knowledge will make it easier to see what is important, and what is secondary.
The point is to learn how to learn in a slow, systematic and thorough way in the beginning, later you brain will do much of the stuff automatically, and the speed will increase too.
Read, recapitulate to understand what was read and to convert it from passive to active memory, try to identify what is key points, compare and connect the knowledge with similar subjects, read slow and thoroughly at first, and don't be afraid to reread stuff later.
Good luck.
Weed (Score:4, Funny)
Lots of weed. Wait, what was the question again?
What I've Learned From My Own Experience (Score:3)
I suffered a brain injury at the age of five due to head trauma. I've had several issues over the years including memory and other cognitive problems.
Over the years, I've developed various coping strategies (lists, mnemonic tricks, remapping tasks to take advantage of strengths and minimize weaknesses).
The most useful thing I've learned is that most people have to make up for deficits, and you are not at all unusual.
The advice on exercise and healthy eating make sense in general, but you will also need to create some unfair advantages for yourself. Rather than depending on your own, natural memory, spend some focused time on mnemonic gimmicks. They aren't the same as learning, but they will allow you to carry lists around in your head like the world's most ingenious cheat sheet.
I've had good results with an old copy of You Can Remember [amazon.com] By Dr. Bruno Furst. There may be better courses I don't know about, but this one gave me a bag of tricks I use every day to function almost as if I had a normal to exceptional memory.
It's just a bag of tricks though, and only a doctor specializing in cognitive issues related to sleep disorders is likely to be able to help you with the root cause.
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Re:Not an easy answer (Score:5, Insightful)
You're older - it will take longer to assimilate information. Plan accordingly - that means studying on the weekend in advance of the class not night before. Ask the professor to point to any large blocks of information that you should commit to memory at the beginning of the semester in preparation.
You are not a sponge - all night-ers are not going to help. Give yourself at least two nights of rest and then test your recall.
Taking twice as long on tests seems on the long end - I take about 1.5x the time of traditional students on tests. Realize that some of them don't know the material either so are just turning in what they can. That said get a learning disability test to see if you do need special considerations (it may just be using a quiet area to take a test with no people around is all you need to focus).
Usually (depending on field) the lower division courses are memorization and the upper division courses show how parts work in systems which is the important aspects.
Try and see your study material in an applied setting. Putting pictures/experience to terms that need to be memorized is vital.
Good luck.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:5, Insightful)
Bullshit. I teach at a university and frequently have students that have trouble with their exams. What the OP should do is go see the Accommodated Services department (or equivalent) at his/her university and see what accommodations can be made. I frequently have students that are able to write exams in separate rooms, on a computer (if it helps them to type rather than write), and with extra time and breaks in the middle of the exam. If someone wants to do a university degree, there is no reason they should be unable to do so.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:4, Insightful)
Unless they are not bright enough to do so.
Which would pretty much cause all of the symptoms mentioned above too.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:5, Insightful)
Believing "brightness" to be an intrinsic character trait is a psychological crutch for those who view their intelligence as their only redeeming quality. A large proportion of the variety of cognitive impairments can be overcome, many even cured, and people can and do get smarter. OP should be praised for embarking on a serious quest for self-improvement. If only those sitting on their laurels would do so as well.
I don't think that means what you think it means.. (Score:5, Funny)
If someone is sitting on their laurels, they've already improved themselves.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:5, Insightful)
Nonsense. It's only one of my many redeeming qualities.
I really tire of the notion that people do not differ in intelligence. We know it about everything else, from sprinting speed, to artistic talent, to the strength of one's eyesight being inborn, but gods forbid we say that about brains.
Oh no, if we just spend enough money on schools, and feed little Johnny a federal breakfast, we'll find that everyone is smart enough to be an electrical engineer. Even all the little minority kids are geniuses but we lie and say they're not because racism. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. I'm sick of it.
I'm smarter than some people and dumber than others, and no amount of mental gymnastics is going to change that.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:5, Insightful)
We know it about everything else, from sprinting speed, to artistic talent, to the strength of one's eyesight being inborn, but gods forbid we say that about brains.
For all those things (except maybe eyesight, but even that can be vastly improved with medical treatment), the variability based on effort is much more than the variability based on 'natural ability.'
Getting a marathon time from 3 hours to 2 hours might take some natural ability (whatever that is), but getting it from 15 hours to 4 hours is all effort (and knowing how to apply that effort).
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For them ROI of college will be limited.
Unless they learn to multiply. Then the ROI of college will be multiplied.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:4, Insightful)
I teach at a university ... If someone wants to do a university degree, there is no reason they should be unable to do so.
I'm a car salesman ... If someone wants to drive a car, there is no reason they should be unable to do so.
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Very few people have been killed by others getting their diplomas.
Thousands of DOD-contractor engineers over the past 60 years would disagree with you. Highly-credentialed scientists have been responsible for millions of deaths in the modern world.
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I think the GP's point was that if it's taking him twice as long to take tests, when he has to apply the information in a real-world setting (i.e. a job) he's probably also going to be slow. Perhaps unacceptably, depending on the job and the employer.
But that doesn't mean he shouldn't be able to get a degree and still apply it with the right job and employer. Good that he's trying to better himself at any rate.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:5, Insightful)
That's bullshit. I started out with similar troubles, and just had to learn better time management. Skip the time-consuming questions, focus on the fast questions, then go back and work out as much of the time-consuming questions as possible in the time alloted.
Few students do this.
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You don't get points for finishing early, but you do get points for getting the correct answer. The elimination strategy (and going back to questions that you weren't sure about) is meant to improve your chances of getting the right answer.
Using up the allotted time in order to maximize your score is, in fact, a time management tool.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:5, Insightful)
Except that it has been found that one of the single largest predictors of success in the study of math specifically (and I do believe this translates to many other areas) has been whether a person believes in talent and abilities vs learned skills.
That is to say, it was found that people who believe math to be a talent perform worst than people who believe it is a skill that can be mastered with effort.
So if you really think it comes down to "abilities" then just go flip on the TV, you probably aren't going to find abilities in anything if you aren't willing to work at getting them.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:5, Interesting)
That is to say, it was found that people who believe math to be a talent perform worst than people who believe it is a skill that can be mastered with effort.
Suppose math IS a talent. Then those without that talent would have tried and failed to get good at math. They would correctly believe that math is a talent.
Those who have the talent would have tried and succeeded, and since people tend to believe that their experience is common experience, they would assume that people who are bad at math didn't try. So they would incorrectly believe that math is a skill instead of a talent.
Your data is consistent with either conclusion.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:5, Insightful)
arghhh... bullshit.
I used to, and still do, hear the same thing regarding artistic talents. My senior year in high school, I was spending 2 study halls, 1 art class, and my lunch, and any other classes that let us take a blow off day, in the art room, and I was spending hours at home on it as well. Yes, I could draw/paint/etc better than most others, but they spent somewhere between zero and 20 minutes a day, in an unconcentrated state, practicing.
I do 100% believe that there are predispositions to various activities, and if you enjoy something or, at least, easily stay focused on something, then it'll be easier to get better at said thing. I don't think those are talents.
I'll also admit that I think there *are* some naturally "talented" people, but the term "savant" fits better.
The vast majority of tasks, especially the 9-5 job ones, do not require any talent. Dedication, hard work, commitment, etc... sure, but you don't need to be especially talented, and most people are not. I also think anyone can learn just about anything (master is another question) if they really want to. It could be an uphill battle for some, and I think that's what the original topic is about... what are some ways he can make this easier? That's a valid question for anyone, and for each person, the answer will probably be a little different.
All that said, just as the "naturally talented" folks are the exception and not the norm, there will be some that simply won't be able to excel in some areas. If you have an IQ of 85, don't get your hopes up on joining the ranks of string theory experts. If you're over 400lb before college, you probably won't be joining the olympic-level marathons... but you could work up to a nice long jog.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:5, Insightful)
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Every person is not a delicate butterfly who will grow up to be the unicorn if they just believe and clap their hands hard enough to make it so.
Sometimes, a wall in front of you is not a requirement that you climb it no matter the difficulty, but perhaps that walking around - or choosing a different direction - really is a better alternative.
Re:Don't go to college, it's clearly not for you (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Studying art is not for me (Score:5, Insightful)
I can sketch, but I do not have the fine motor skills or natural ability to replicate real world (or imagined) people, places, or things on paper. If I were to go to a university to study art, I too would take 2-3 times as long as anyone else, and produce work which was noticably less accurate/detailed than my peers. I could study harder, retake many classes, try all sorts of learning tricks, but it would always be an uphill battle.
It is easy for those of us in knowledge positions to think that success in technical classes is simply a function of hard work. That, while partially true, is not the sole criteria for success. A friend (and music notable) has said that nearly everyone can sing, and with practice anyone who can sing, can sing well. While that's true, it's only true in the sense that you could dedicate your entire life to singing and get good - good enough to enjoy it. But you would never have thevoice of Mariah Carey or Luciano Pavoratti or any of a number of naturally gifted people who also worked very hard.
I think the parent post is right -maybe college just ins't for this guy. At least not as a short term career choice. Speed and repetition, along with memory training may help. Or it may not. Choosing to become an artist out of desire, and finding that you cannot - with instruction - replicate basic actions is a prime indicator that art may not be the path which provides the greatest reward.
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Chuck Jones' illustration instructor told his class that "all of you have a hundred thousand bad drawings in you. The sooner you get rid of them, the better..." , While a hundred thousand is a metaphorically high number, if you worked hard and seriously enough, you would eventually develop the fine motor skills and the "ability to replicate real world (or imagined) people, places, or things on paper." In addition, you would in the process, develop a distinct graphic style, and be at an employable level o
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Good quote, but it doesn't apply. Most university courses won't allow you access to reference materials during exams or quizzes.
At the engineering school I attended, during what we affectionally called boot camp (the first 3 semesters where you take Calc 1-3, once a day for an hour, with a test and a quiz every week), we weren't even allowed calculators during exams, much less a text book.
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It sounds like you may have an undiagnosed learning disability.
Many of the big universities and colleges in the United States provide accommodations for students with learning disabilities, such as being allowed to take 2x regular time to finish exams and quizzes, as well as some kind of support regarding the doing of homework and studying. To obtain such accommodations, you would have to go to your institution's "learning disability center" (unfortunately, there is no standardized name for it), fill out some paperwork and get examined/tested to determine if indeed you do have a disability, and if so, what accommodations would be appropriate/fair to be given you. They will probably also be able to advise you on the kind of medial treatment you might need.
This is almost exactly what I was going to post. If you cannot memorize the multiplication tables (generally considered a trivial tasks for adults) then you have some more-or-less serious problem that is dramatically impacting you intellectually. The only modification to the above would be to perhaps see a physician first (start with a general practitioner). You could have any number of treatable conditions that might respond well to medication or behavioral modification. This is especially the case conside
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Would you say the key is repetition?
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One thing I recently learned was that controlled breathing while studying really improves your focus and definitely improved my retention. A guy showed me how to breath in and out with slow breaths 5 secs on the inhale and exhale first through the mouth and then after i got the timing down, the nose.
From what I have heard, it is the same type of technique used by snipers.
Unfortunately, this is the same technique used in advanced Tantric sex techniques. Not what you want to deal with in the middle of a proctored test.
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Second this. Most colleges will grant you exceptions/accommodations if you have a diagnosed learning disability. This is sometimes codified in state laws or guidelines. This is not to say that you will be given a free pass, but like the original poster said, most educators want their students to succeed. They cannot help you unless they are aware of your problem, and how it can be over come.