1. Maximizing recall through break taking

Did you know that recall during learning can be significantly improved by following some basic methods of retaining information.

One of the main reasons for the inability to recall information is not having enough breaks during periods of learning. The mind requires small periods of rest to absorb information before the ability to retain information is restored.

Under normal circumstances and with understanding fairly constant, we tend to recall: more at the beginning and ends of learning periods; more of items which are associated by repetition, sense, rhyming etc.; more of things which are outstanding or unique (the psychologist who discovered this characteristic was Von resorff, and such a memorisation event is known as the Von Restorff effect); and considerably less of things from the middle of learning periods.

If recall is going to kept at a reasonable level, it is necessary to find the point at which recall and understanding work in greatest harmony. For normal purposes this point occurs in a time period of between 20 to 50 minutes followed by a 5 to 10 minute break. A shorter period does not give the mind enough time to appreciate the rhythm and organisation of the material, and a longer period results in the continuing decline of the amount recalled.

Also breaks are additionally useful as relaxation points. They get rid of the muscular and mental tension which inevitably builds up during periods of concentration.

2. Review Techniques

In order to better recall information it is good to review information at just the time that recall is about to drop. For example, the first review should take place about 10 minutes after a one-hour learning period and should itself take 5 minutes. This will keep the recall high for approximately one day, when the next review should take place, this time for a period of 2 to 4 minutes. After this, recall will probably be retained for approximately a week, when another 2 minutes review can be completed followed by a further review after about one month. After this time the knowledge will be lodged in long term memory. This means it will be familiar in the way a personal telephone number is familiar, needing only the most occasional nudge to maintain it.

The first review, especially if notes have been taken, should be a fairly complete note revision which may mean scrapping original notes and substituting for them revised and final copy. The second, third and fourth etc. review sessions should take the following form: without referring to final notes, jot down on a piece of paper everything that can be recalled. This should then be checked against the final notes and any corrections or additions to what has been recalled should be made. Both notes and jottings should be in the form of mind maps.

2. Your Brain and Mind Mapping

If the brain is to relate to information most efficiently the information must be structured in such a way as to 'slot in' as easily as possible. It follows that if the brain works primarily with key concepts in an interlinked and integrated manner, our notes and our words relations should in many instances be structured in this way rather than in traditional 'lines'.

Rather than starting from the top and working down in the sentences or lists, one should start from the centre with the main idea and branch out as dictated by the individual ideas and general form of the central theme.

A Mind Map has a number of advantages over the linear form of note taking

1 The centre with the main idea is more clearly defined.

2. the relative importance of each idea is clearly indicated. More important ideas will be nearer the centre and less important ideas will be near the edge.

3. The links between the key concepts will be immediately recognisable because of their proximity and connection.

4. As a result of the above, recall and review will be both more effective and more rapid.

5. The nature of the structure allows for the easy addition of new information without messy scratching out or squeezing in.

6. Each map made will look and be different from each other map. This will aid recall.

7. In the more creative areas of note making, such as essay preparation. The open-ended nature of the map will enable the brain to make new connections far more readily.