Mnemonics

The Mnemonic Method of Learning

Mnemonics are popular tools for learning. They are often used in educational spaces and by individuals trying to learn new concepts and skills. Here's an example of a mnemonic in action:

Mnemonics like these are widely used in schools. They provide a standard memory device for lots of people to share. It can also be helpful to create your own mnemonics. Creating a mnemonic that's unique to your learning style can help you study and memorize in a way that works for you.

Fig. 1 - Mnemonics can help people remember information like the names of the planets.

Importance of Mnemonics

Mnemonics are more than just silly songs and doodles. Mnemonic devices are so popular in education because they improve your memory, help you understand difficult concepts, and teach you to use new learning strategies.

Say your best subject is art, but you're having trouble memorizing lists and concepts in your biology class. With mnemonic devices, you could use art to understand biology. You could draw a decorative diagram of the five taxonomic kingdoms, paint a portrait of Gregor Mendel performing early genetics research, etc.

Mnemonic devices can teach you to use what you do know to understand what you don't know.

Types of Mnemonics

Mnemonics come in several forms to match different learning styles. Here is an overview of the basic categories of mnemonics:

• Words and Letters
  • Acronyms
  • Expression/Word Mnemonics
  • Spelling Mnemonics

• Music and Rhyme
  • Music
  • Rhyme

• Visualization
  • Model Mnemonics
  • Image Mnemonics
  • Method of Loci

• Chunking
  • Note Organization
  • Connections

Examples of Mnemonics

Now for some specific examples of each type of mnemonic device.

Words and Letters

Words and letters make up a lot of common mnemonic devices. They can help you learn spelling rules, ordered words, hierarchical concepts, and more.

Acronyms

Acronyms are words made up of the first letters of other words. For example, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is an acronym that serves as a simple abbreviation. Here's the full definition:

Acronyms shorten a long string of words and make them easier to remember.

Expression and Word Mnemonics

Similar to acronyms, expression and word mnemonics combine the initial letters of a group of words. Instead of pronouncing the combination as its own word, though, they create a new, memorable expression using the same initial letters.

Spelling Mnemonics

Spelling mnemonics are designed to help you memorize the spelling of words. They can refer to a specific word's spelling or a broader spelling rule.

Fig. 2 - Potentially quite helpful.

Music and Rhyme

Mnemonic devices sometimes make use of songs and poems to help with memorization. This can include setting a concept to a little jingle or forming it into a stanza that uses rhymes or alliteration.

Music Mnemonics

Music mnemonics often set a long list of items to a simple melody.

This can include songs listing out 50 U.S. states in alphabetical order, jingles explaining the function of helping verbs, the essential amino acids set to the tune of Beethoven's 9th Symphony — you name it.

Rhyme Mnemonics

Maybe songs aren't your thing, but poems and rhymes are. Rhyme mnemonics use rhymes, alliteration, and other poetic devices to help with memorizing lists and concepts.

Visualization

Visualization mnemonics do exactly as you'd guess: they visualize concepts to make them more memorable.

Fig. 3 - A visualization mnemonic modeling the types of mnemonics.

Now for a deeper investigation into the types of visualization mnemonics.

Model Mnemonics

Science textbooks are often full of illustrations and diagrams. These are examples of model mnemonics.

Fig. 4 - A model mnemonic showing the anatomy of a neuron.

The model mnemonic above is a labeled diagram of a neuron. The image is zoomed in and cut open in places so that every part of the cell is visible. There are so many individual parts that it would be difficult to learn every part's name and function without a visual aid. Learning these terms by looking at the model makes the structure of a neuron clearer and easier to remember.

Image Mnemonics

Image mnemonics are very similar to model mnemonics. They use pictures and illustrations to assist with memorization. This type of mnemonic is very broad and open to creativity. You can design image mnemonics however you want — whatever helps you reach your memory goal!

The main difference between image mnemonics and model mnemonics is that image mnemonics don't have to directly represent a concept. Instead, they can just illustrate it.

Method of Loci

The method of loci is an interesting type of mnemonic device because it involves picturing objects in space.

This memory device is sometimes called a "mind palace" or "memory palace." It was used as a mnemonic device by the Roman philosopher Cicero, and by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional character Sherlock Holmes.

Fig. 5 - What could be on it?

Chunking

When you "chunk" information, you separate a large group of items into smaller and more memorable groups.

Here's how that might look.

Chunking can also include note organization and connections.

Note Organization

The chunking method of note organization applies easily to a school setting. It involves grouping and ordering notes to make them easier to study and remember.

Flashcards are an example of note organization. When you create flashcards, you separate your notes on a subject into individual "chunks" of information. Instead of staring at a page full of notes, you can study by quizzing yourself on one concept at a time.

Connections

When you use connection mnemonics, you attach new information you want to remember to old information you already know.

Gluing what you're trying to learn to what you already know forges a connection between the two pieces of information. Whenever you think of one, you'll also think of the other.

Different types of mnemonics serve different purposes. Not every type will work for everyone. Maybe music doesn't help you to learn, but models and pictures do. You'll get the most out of your study if you choose and create mnemonics that fit your learning style.