Approach to Memory Improvement

There is no single solution to help students or adults with their memory problems. Psychologists propose that we need a more comprehensive approach to solving memory problems.

For example, Douglas Herrmann's multimodal approach emphasizes that people who seriously want to enhance their memory must adopt a comprehensive approach to memory improvement; this approach focuses on many different modes or factors (Herrmann, 1991; Herrmann et al., 2002).

A comprehensive approach requires us to pay attention to our physical condition by getting sufficient sleep and attending to health problem.

Also, students who have a strong motivation to achieve success are also likely to have high grade-point average (Robbins et al., 2004).

People who want to improve their memories should develop a repertoire of several-improvement techniques:

1. Do not divide your attention between several simultaneous tasks.
2. Process information in terms of its meaning, by emphasizing elaborative encodings, distinctiveness, and self-reference.
3. Try to learn material in the same context as the one in which you will be tested.
4. The amount you learn depends on the total time you spend practicing.
5. You will learn more if you spread your learning trials over time
6. You will enhance your memory just by taking tests on the material.
7. Use imagery (mnemonics) that shows an interaction between the items that need to be recalled.
8. Use chunking by combining isolated items into meaningful units.
9. Construct a hierarchy by arranginf items in a series of classes.
   
10. Create a narrative, or a story that links a series of words together.
    
11. Create a vivid, interactive mental image to prompt future recall.
12. Create a specific reminder or an external memory aid.