What is the best way to memorize material for a science class?

Question

Memorizing has always been a little hard for me... I get good grades but I want to find a way to memorize that doesn't involve hours and hours and hours of reviewing. (This is for a microbiology college class...)

Answer 1

I learned the following technique in H.S. and continue to use it through college, and also in grad school. Its 1, 2, 2, 4. When given material study it that day (1), the study it again two days later (2), then two days after that (2), and finally (4) days after that. It sounds weird but thats the number of times you need to repeat a topic in order for the brain to remember it (in contrast to memoriziation in which you forget it after your done with the exam).

Mneumonics are also good. Using both techniques I still remember the names and major events of all the Roman emperors after 8 years. You can make up catchy little mneumotics to help you remember the biological and physiological processes different microbes are involved in.

Answer 2

The first answer works for some people. I often find a variety of study techniques help. First, repetition; read the material multiple times. Second, try reading aloud or studying in a group where you discuss the material; for some reason I can remember things better when I say them than when I just read them. Third, flash cards, especially for biology since there are many words/systems/names that need to be memorized. Just keep a couple on you as you walk to class, get coffee, etc... and run through them while you wait (a pretty good way to make use of time which would otherwise be wasted). Fourth, note taking; go through your text book and take notes on the important passages, since writing things down can often help you remember them better (regardless of whether you actually use the notes or not).

I'm sure you'll do just fine. good luck!

Answer 3

Try writing a report for yourself using the material you need to learn. Use the terminology (correctly, of course) as many times as you can. Another technique is to teach someone else the material. As you speak and teach you will learn it better and better. Also, I always take copious notes in class, then go to the union (whatever it's called where you are), get coffee, then RECOPY the notes very neatly; that's when I learn the material.

Answer 4

Flashcards got me through college, as far as memorizing long lists of facts. They provide immediate feedback. You go through the deck. If you know it, set the card in the table. If you don't know it, say it three times, then put the card back in the deck. It's a lot easier than trying to study directly from a textbook.

Answer 5

any form of repititon...for example retyping notes, making flashcards, repeating aloud the processes or terms you need to know, drawing and redrawing the processes you need to know. It also helps a lot to find relations between concepts that way one will trigger another. Also if you have to study a sequence of actions/events it can be useful to develop ann acronym you can remember. All of these will help you remember the main concepts and once the test is administered you will recall everything with ease.
Good luck!

Answer 6

I think you are supposed to link the materials to something you know and love. Like for instance if you need to remember the word cat, and you love black cats, you picture a black cat to link it to something you know and love, like the one you have at home. So since it is microbiology say you need to remember that a mitochondria is the powerhouse of a cell you would connect that to something you enjoy like well, I don't know, like maybe picturing a formula one racing car, those have a lot of power and some people love watching car races, it's totally up to you. All I know is I saw a program on improving memory and they said to link the material to something you know very well and love.

Answer 7

record yourself on a cassette tape, play it all night while your sleeping, ive heard this works