How do you memorize all these obscure details?

[medsurg2010]

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Hi,

I'm a first year and I'm wondering how the heck you all memorize all these small details that inevitably show up on exams. I have a problem memorizing details if I can't relate them to the big picture--something our professors don't do well for us... So, do you use flashcards? memory tricks? I would be greatful for any tips.

 

[PlasticMan]

Hi,

I'm a first year and I'm wondering how the heck you all memorize all these small details that inevitably show up on exams. I have a problem memorizing details if I can't relate them to the big picture--something our professors don't do well for us... So, do you use flashcards? memory tricks? I would be greatful for any tips.

pneumonics and repitition. Making flash cards wastes too much time. Better to just read it over and over and over...

 

[cfdavid]

pneumonics and repitition. Making flash cards wastes too much time. Better to just read it over and over and over...

Yeah, I've struggled with that at times myself. I finally came to the conclusion, that for me, it's too time consuming. Also, you can go crazy with the summary sheets if they get too detailed (that's whey they're called summary sheets). I'll make charts and sheets when appropriate though, and that's helpful, but I've had to real myself in at times...lol

I totally agree on the repitition.

 

[PlasticMan]

Yeah, I've struggled with that at times myself. I finally came to the conclusion, that for me, it's too time consuming. Also, you can go crazy with the summary sheets if they get too detailed (that's whey they're called summary sheets). I'll make charts and sheets when appropriate though, and that's helpful, but I've had to real myself in at times...lol

I totally agree on the repitition.

Up until this thread I have been typing my own notes for every single lecture basing it off the powerpoints from class / readings. I spent so much time typing, I could have been reading over the notes and reading more books instead.

 

[CoolerTHANu]

make up mnemonics that relate to something u're interested in, like sex maybe

 

[cfdavid]

Up until this thread I have been typing my own notes for every single lecture basing it off the powerpoints from class / readings. I spent so much time typing, I could have been reading over the notes and reading more books instead.

Dude, I hear that. Summary sheets/Charts are good for some things, and I'll use them for pathways etc. for neuro. But, it's important (for me anyway) to not go crazy with it. One can easily get carried away and waste time.

 

[CatsandCradles]

Hi,

I'm a first year and I'm wondering how the heck you all memorize all these small details that inevitably show up on exams. I have a problem memorizing details if I can't relate them to the big picture--something our professors don't do well for us... So, do you use flashcards? memory tricks? I would be greatful for any tips.

There are two things you can do.

1 You read Robbin's 7th edition Pathological Basis For Disease. And just keep reading that bloody thing.

2 Or you read "Baby" Robbins.


Right now I'm doing option 1. And I'm about to take a test on Tuesday, so I will let you know how this strategy is working

 

[mules05]

Dude, I hear that. Summary sheets/Charts are good for some things, and I'll use them for pathways etc. for neuro. But, it's important (for me anyway) to not go crazy with it. One can easily get carried away and waste time.

It all depends how you learn, too. I've realized I learn by writing things out, so summary sheets work perfectly for me (even if I write them out and never look at them again). It never hurts to try different things to figure out what works for you.

 

[da8s0859q]

make up mnemonics that relate to something u're interested in, like sex maybe

Maybe.

 

[Law2Doc]

pneumonics and repitition. Making flash cards wastes too much time. Better to just read it over and over and over...

It's "mnemonics". Pneumonics isn't a word and from its root implies something to do with respiration.
It depends on the course. Flash cards are very useful for some things (micro, maybe pharm) and not useful for others. But lots of the study experts (psychologists) swear that people learn better by "active" versus "passive" learning -- you retain more if you are actually writing/typing out things rather than passively reading/listening. The tendency of passive learning is you tend to gloss over things without affixing them into your brain, while that's harder to do if you actually make yourself write something out. Lots of people create outlines of the material, or otherwise summarize their notes, in addition to the repeat reads. Sure it takes longer, but it tends to be more effective than a repeat where the same things fail to stick on each pass.

 

[njbmd]

Hi,

I'm a first year and I'm wondering how the heck you all memorize all these small details that inevitably show up on exams. I have a problem memorizing details if I can't relate them to the big picture--something our professors don't do well for us... So, do you use flashcards? memory tricks? I would be greatful for any tips.

I wasn't big into flashcards but I did loads of organization. I have a huge whiteboard that I would use to concept map or just diagram things. In some courses like Gross Anatomy where memorization is utilized more, I was very, very organized and used check lists and drill tapes for most subject matter.

In other courses like Physio and Biochem, I used concept mapping going from the general to the details. Pharm and Path were also courses that I could go from general to detailed with much organization and diagrams to like things in between.

 

[jocg27]

pneumonics and repitition. Making flash cards wastes too much time. Better to just read it over and over and over...

Agree, mostly...PHARM is the one class for which I believe making flashcards is worthwhile.

 

[cfdavid]

It all depends how you learn, too. I've realized I learn by writing things out, so summary sheets work perfectly for me (even if I write them out and never look at them again). It never hurts to try different things to figure out what works for you.

I totally agree. It just turned out that for me, I was spending too much time on the sheets. If I need to memorize certain things, I'll get out a scratch pad and just write them from memory, over and over.