Mnemonics are memory aids, such as acronyms, rhymes, vivid images and the method of loci, that link information that is hard to remember to something that is easier to remember.
How it works
Some information has no natural structure: the order of the planets, cranial nerves, or the meaning of a foreign word. Mnemonics give that information a structure. An acronym turns a list into one word; a rhyme turns it into a rhythm; an image links an unfamiliar word to a familiar one; the method of loci attaches items to places you already know well. Each technique creates retrieval cues that lead you back to the information.
Mnemonics work by chunking many items into one unit and often by dual coding, combining words with imagery.
How to make and use mnemonics (steps)
- Decide if you need one. Use mnemonics for arbitrary lists, sequences and vocabulary, not for concepts you can understand.
- Choose a type. Acronym or acrostic for ordered lists; keyword image for vocabulary; method of loci for longer lists.
- Make it vivid and personal. Unusual, funny or emotional images are easier to remember. Mnemonics you create yourself are often more memorable.
- Check accuracy. Make sure the mnemonic decodes to the right answer.
- Practise retrieval. Put the mnemonic on a flashcard and recall both the mnemonic and what it stands for.
- Review with spacing. Mnemonics fade too; review them with spaced repetition.
Evidence
Mnemonics are ancient: the method of loci is described in Roman texts on rhetoric. Modern research has studied them extensively. Atkinson and Raugh (1975) found that the keyword method improved learning of Russian vocabulary compared with a control group. Bellezza (1981) reviewed mnemonic devices and their effectiveness for different kinds of material. Dunlosky and colleagues (2013) rated the keyword mnemonic as low utility for general study, not because it does not work, but because it applies to a narrow range of material, takes time to create, and in some studies its benefits faded over longer delays. The takeaway is to use mnemonics selectively for material that suits them.
Using mnemonics with Duetoday
When you have a list to memorise from your Duetoday notes, ask Galileo to suggest a mnemonic for it based on your own material, then adapt it so it is personal to you. Add the mnemonic to a card with the AI flashcard generator so it is reviewed with spaced repetition.
