We are constantly bombarded by information and concepts, which we are expected to remember. As a rule, we generally remember a great deal of information immediately after we have learned or heard them. But as time elapses, we seem to remember hardly anything. This is because, the information that we have learned is first transferred to short-term memory. With disuse, the information stored in our short-term memory fades over time and we register a blank when we try to recall the information. This is not something restricted only to students, but is faced by all of us, who either receive or collect information and try to recall it for use at a later date. What is important to understand in this whole learning process is that all information moves first into short term memory and with constant application gets lodged into long term memory. Just think of the nursery rhymes repeated ad infinitum that even after 20 years we are able to recall them easily. Due to repetition the information has shifted to long-term memory so you can recall them at will. This is true of cycling, driving and a host of other repetitive skills, where we need no great application of the mind. Reviewing is indeed an important process for transforming the process of learning into a productive exercise. After you read or receive any particular information review the whole thing in your mind. This will help you to assess how far you have understood the information gathered. Ideally, you can note down all the points you have learnt on a paper or book. Next you can compare your review notes with the actual notes or original source from where the information was received. You will then be able to gauge the gaps in your learning and where you have missed the points. By making another attempt to read and gather the whole information, you will be able to gain a fuller view of the entire subject and you could again make a review of the information re-learnt by jotting them down in a paper or book. A further comparison with the actual notes will highlight the remaining missing areas of information that you need to fill in. This way you will increase your understanding of the particular subject or information under study and help in assigning them to long-term memory. It is important however that the key to improving memory is a clear understanding of the information gathered. Unless the content has meaning and purpose, you will not be able to remember them effectively. This is the reason why rote learning has only immediate retention value and is often very quickly forgotten. Rather than blind learning, understanding the concepts and associating them with an existing set of stored information, undoubtedly provide great depth to meaning and understanding, and paves way for sudden insights and greater creativity. When reviewing of information is done with association and meaningful connections, they pass into long-term memory. At a later time, when you come across similar concepts, you will be able to relate the concepts and could lead to greater imagination, creativity and insights. Needless to say in all these Mind Map it is, which is the excellent tool for such a review process. It is the perfect device for noting down all the relevant points of information in the quickest possible time. Since Mind Map technique was born out of the need for enhancing memory, it utilizes all the memory techniques and is indeed the most ideal method for gathering information and reviewing. Because of the simplicity of the method, it makes reviewing such an easy task, apart from reinforcing information. There is no other simple process for making the task of processing information and reviewing simpler and highly effective than Mind Mapping. It is the perfect foil for forgetting, and the best technique for information gathering, review and retention. Try learning Mind Mapping and you will realize the simplicity and effectiveness of the technique. |
