Memory Learning Styles

Memory learning styles concern the facilitation of learning using various methods to process and be properly introduce information for memorization. Although this is not a comprehensive list, examples of memory learning styles are incremental memorization, ordinal linguistic personification and visual thinking.

Knowledge Management Software

Technological advancements in computers have facilitated innovations pertaining to assisted memory recall. For example, knowledge management software aids a learner in memorizing bits of information by providing a variety of presentation styles to trigger and facilitate memory. Common examples of knowledge management software involve digital flash cards, which able to be programmed with desired information and presented back in intervals specific to the user’s settings.

Incremental Memorization

Memory learning styles include incremental memorization. Incremental memorization involves facilitating the process of memorizing information when presented with time-portioned, small and manageable information specific to the learner’s attention span. For example, a slide show presenting critically important information, one slide at a time to ensure maximum retention, illustrates the incremental memorization process.

Ordinal Linguistic Personification

Ordinal linguistic personification involves the learner imbuing or superimposing personality type characteristics onto letters, words, sentences or any meaningfully information presented linguistically. The result of ordinal linguistic personification assists the learner in solidifying information into memory for later rapid recall. For example, a learner may be presented with the word “irony” for the first time and want to memorize how to spell the word for later recall. If the learner chooses ordinal linguistic personification as a method of learning, she may see the letter “i” in “irony” as always having a sort of identity crisis. That is, for example, with the iconic little dot floating above representing an idea or light bulb illustrating how the letter “i” is overly amused with her own thoughts. The result of this silly imagery increases the probability of accurate memory recall.

Synesthesia

Memory learning styles may also include synesthesia, in which the learner may attempt to combine the five senses with information not normally perceived through traditional sensory perception. For example, if a learner wanted to memorize a “sigmoid curve” (a mathematical function) taught in a statistics course, he could ask himself “what would the sigmoid curve taste like?” or “how would the sigmoid curve sound if it was sung?” Ultimately, combining the auditory and taste experiences to mathematical information helps to trigger memory in ways outside the scope of the traditional effort involved in memorization.

Visual Thinking

Visual thinking can be used as a memory learning style involving the creation of mental pictures or conceptualizing a mental model of an idea or information to be memorized. Memorizing how to make a culinary recipe, for example, can involve visualizing all the physical steps involved in making a gourmet pizza. For instance, visualizing a search for the ingredients, having your ingredients all organized neatly in front of you and accidentally dropping an a egg on the dog, may result in remembering how you visualized dropping an egg on the dog, thus assisting in triggering the memory of one egg being required as part of the recipe.