Read the article How to learn like a memory champion published at http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140307-how-to-learn-like-a-memory-champ
and comment on/discuss it. Also, present your methods of memorization/learning. Have apps enhanced learning?
English Conversation Course-7th term
Firstly it is emphasized that ability of the human mind is endless. The example of Ed Cooke showed us, that everyone who will use proper memory techniques can learn much faster. So called “mems” are widely used in internet societies, but in different purpose. The images, short movies or sequence of words are used to share portion of information, thich very often does not provide any useful knowledge. "An absurd image is memorable" - I absolutely admire this statement. More then once we saw a spelling mistake or heard blunder which became reason for ridicule, but we do not remember the subject of the speech. This is kind of an absurd.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, even infants are learning and it is made by fun and later by curiosity. But who do not like the competition? It is always about being the winner. Besides it is comforting that there exist somewhere teachers, who still take care about fighting against adversity. Overcrowding the classes causes that to each students is not devoted attention. The role of the teacher is to find a way to desire the development of student.
Moreover this article has inspired me to look for such applications. In our country those techniques are still not popularized. At the core of pedagogy we should find the new techniques to assist the learning process. Perhaps sending children to schools in an earlier age would not be necessary any longer, or the whole process of education might be shorter than it is now.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, despite always being interested in technology and computers, I never really believed in any of this "e-learning" magic. In the 2000s we observed the first approach to incorporating computers in learning – we could hear, for example, about how having hyperlinks in texts is useful and help us find information faster than in printed texts. As a matter of fact, It wasn't really working in many academic applications of this technologies. True – it helps us to find information quickly – but at he same time it makes it incredibly hard to remember any details from the text being red. It turns out, that reading interactive text with hyperlinks requires our brain to perform constant rating of the links we came across – whether they are worth following or not. As surveys showed – it consumes a significant portion of brain's "processing power".
ReplyDeleteBut nowadays we can see numerous ideas emerging in the field of digital learning aids. The app that the article says about seems to be a good idea – if it really gives such dramatic improvement in students' academic performance. It is a completely different approach then technologies I mentioned earlier. I haven't used the app but given the fact, that authors based their product on extensive research- there may be something to it…
I agree with s9397.
ReplyDeleteSince I can remember trying to enter science languages / subjects through computer programs. For all school books They give CD with applications for learning. On meny online page you can buy online language course. Perhaps I never belief to the effects of these techniques, I never have outlined successes thanks to this method.
In my opinion e_lerning techniques that could be used only as an help in normal lessons. Mayby I see it too skeptical. But in my opinion this techniques are the perfect complement to lessons completed in the traditional manner. Applications with the nice graphics, It never create real contact with a foreign language. And is it good to replace the human in every area of computer?
The technique mentioned in the article (using memes to remember words) is really effective in my case. I've used it since my grade school, it was intuitive to associate strange-sounding foreign words with the ones I knew and to make up some absurd stories about them. I've never used any applications to remember things, though; I wonder if it's as effective as inventing those associations oneself? Each person thinks differently and may have different associations concerning the same words.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of differences between people - some of them are visualizers, some are audiles, some have photographic memory, and each of them has different method of remembering things. I think that we shouldn't praise one method and exclude the others; it's good to know different styles of learning, but we must remember that what's good to one person, isn't necessarily good for the other.
The thing that concerns me the most, though, is the difference between remembering and learning. Of course, when we want to learn a foreign language or stumble upon some difficult word from biology or physics, remembering is important; what I find the most valuable, though, is not the amount of words we remember, but whether we understand the subject we're learning about. It's useless to pack your head with thousands of words, unless you know the connections between them. That's the main point of learning, I think.
Well ... in my opinion, the best way to memorise something for me is to visualise it by looking at it. When I have problem with a task I'll simply look up the solution. I memorise more by writing and repeating all the words. These kinds of applications don't give me good reasults because I need a good quiet and calm enviroment because I get distracted quite easly. Besides my eyes get really tired, really fast while using the PC.
ReplyDeleteIt's like Patrycja said, some things are good for one person but aren't good for the other. Everyone uses a techniqe that suits them the most.
I have the same feelings like Katarzyna, for me the best way to memorise is visualise something or have some associations with the problem.
ReplyDeleteI tried Anki application to learn vocabulary, but this app didn't give me possitive results. This is due to the fact that this kind of applications require focus on exactly this app, but when I am using pc or smartphone I dissociation quite fast and begin to do something else.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn my case I have tried some of memorize techniques like Mind maps, memory palace. For mind maps I was using program freemind. Mind maps are very useful tools to memorize big portion of information, but this technique require a lot of time to prepare. I also have tried some techniques from this youtube channel, you can find there a lot of useful information about memorize techniques, fast reading and self-improvment.
ReplyDeleteApplication to learn new languages like Anki or similar aren't effective. The best techniques as Marcin and Cezary said are visualise and using some words or phrases in practices. But in others fields we can use mind maps or even draw a comics which describe problem to learn. We have to only launch out imagination.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I would like to visualize the thing that i must memorize first. Its the best way for me and for other people as i read the other responses. I used to attend a class one on one with a teacher that learned other students to memorize. Meaning read faster or just be better in absorbing information on paper or computer. There are different methods online , youtube and such that teach you how to memorize and learn but i prefer learning it with a teacher that is near you and can talk to you and immediately tell you if you do something wrong. Speaking of differences between people - some of them are visualizers, some are audiles, some have photographic memory. I think that you should concentrate on one method and practicate it and eliminate all the rest. Everyone is different so chose what is best for you.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that everyone's learning differently and it is a very idividual thing what kind of technique we'll choose to memorise. Actually I never used any kind of memorising techniques on purpose. I just found my own that combines photographic memory with focusing on the topic and realy getting to know it from the basics. For an instance if I'm intrested in remembering a complicated word in foreign language I check not only it's meaning but also where it came from and what is it's structure.
ReplyDeleteBut going back to the article I think this way of learning is brilliant. I actually downloaded the app Memrise on my phone and tested it for a few days learning Italian. And what was essential for me it was fun and useful. Launching this app was a nice break of work and also a great entertainment during ride in the bus.
Moreover i found the presented technique super suitable for my type of memorising.