Almost everyone uses one or more mnemonic devices to make it easier to remember some list of facts. Since ancient Greece, students have relied on mnemonic strategies to increase their ability to remember. First, you need to know a little about the history of mnemonics, the science behind why mnemonics work so well, the various types of mnemonic devices, and familiar mnemonics.
A mnemonic device is a memory aid that provides a method of organizing information to make it easier to remember. The word mnemonic comes from the word mnema which is a Greek word meaning memory. The ancient Greeks highly valued the use of mnemonics and considered the study of these strategies essential. This is not surprising when you consider that most writing in ancient Greece was done on clay rather than paper. Unfortunately, the study of mnemonics has all but disappeared from our curriculum, remaining only as a few scattered devices regarded simply as memory tricks. However, the fact is that much of what we learn in school is mere memorization. Additionally, there have been studies that suggest that the use of mnemonics actually improves the ability to apply remembered information. (Levin and Levin, 1990)
How did a simple “memory trick” become an essential element in classical education in ancient times and continue to be used in modern times centuries later? It could be due to the fact that the way mnemonic devices work is based on brain science principles. The human brain likes patterns. When we learn something new, our brain tries to find an association between the new information and what we already know. If no association is made, there is little chance that the new data will make it into long-term memory. Mnemonics convert previously unknown information into a group in which the brain can plug the new information into an old framework.
There are seven different types of mnemonics; acrostic sentences, acronyms, rhymes, phrases, keyword mnemonics, loci mnemonics, and narrative chaining. Acrostic sentences are a very common device, while the first letter of each word is a list of things to remember and is used to form a sentence. For example, if you need to remember the order of the planets (when Pluto was still a planet), you might remember the sentence “My very anxious mother just served us nine pizzas.” Acronyms are basically the same as an acrostic sentence, except that only one word is used to remember a concept instead of a complete sentence. An example is the word HOMES which is used to remember the great lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior). There are many rhymes and phrases that serve as mnemonics such as “I before E except after C, or when rhyming with A, as in neighbor and regret” and the phrase “El principal es tu amigo” to remember the difference between principal and principal. .
The next three mnemonics are used less frequently but can be powerful memory devices. Keyword mnemonics as two concepts (such as a foreign word with its English counterpart) and through a visual cue are used to recall the foreign definition. Suppose you need to learn the Spanish word “Pato” (duck), you could imagine a duck with a pot on its head.
Loci mnemonics develop similar memory connections but use physical locations instead of images. To use this strategy, mentally walk through a familiar place, for example your house, and imagine the things you need to remember in various areas of the house. When you need to remember items, walk again and you’ll have better luck remembering.
Narrative chaining basically consists of remembering groups of concepts or elements by creating a story that involves the elements to be remembered. Narrative chaining is one of the most powerful ways to remember long lists of jobs. Whether you’re a parent, student, or teacher, there’s a place for mnemonic devices in your life.