HOW LEARNING STYLES AFFECTS USE OF MNEMONICS

The way in which people learn affects the sort of mnemonics they should consider using to store information. The three main learning styles are:

• visual
• auditory
• kinesthetic

No-one uses one of the styles exclusively, and there is usually significant overlap in learning styles.

Visual Learners

Visual learners relate most effectively to written information, notes, diagrams and pictures. Typically they will be unhappy with a presentation where they are unable to take detailed notes - to an extent information does not exist for a visual learner unless it has been seen written down. This is why some visual learners will take notes even when they have printed course notes on the desk in front of them. Visual learners will tend to be most effective in written communication, symbol manipulation etc. Visual learners make up around 65% of the population.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners relate most effectively to the spoken word. They will tend to listen to a lecture, and then take notes afterwards, or rely on printed notes. Often information written down will have little meaning until it has been heard - it may help auditory learners to read written information out loud. Auditory learners may be sophisticated speakers, and may specialize effectively in subjects like law or politics. Auditory learners make up about 30% of the population.

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic Learners learn effectively through touch and movement and space, and learn skills by imitation and practice. Predominantly kinesthetic learners can appear slow, in that information is normally not presented in a style that suits their learning methods. Kinesthetic learners make up around 5% of the population.

Memory Implications of Learning Styles

Most literature on mnemonics assumes the visual approach to learning styles - mnemonics are recommended to be as visually appealing and memorable as possible. If you are an auditory or kinesthetic learner you may find that this emphasis on imagery leads to ineffective recall. In this case, try adjusting the mnemonics to suit your learning style. For an auditory learner, use auditory cues to create your mnemonics. For a kinesthetic learner, imagine performing actions or using tools as the basis of memory techniques.

Using Mnemonics to Learn More Effectively

When we create a mnemonic, e.g. an image or story to remember a telephone number, the following things can be used to make the mnemonic more memorable:

• Use positive, pleasant images. The brain often blocks out unpleasant ones.
• Exaggerate the size of important parts of the image
• Usually humour, Funny or peculiar things are easier to remember than normal ones.
• Similarly rude or sexual rhymes are very difficult to forget.
• Symbols (e.g. red traffic lights, pointing fingers, etc.) can be used in mnemonics.
• Vivid, colourful images are easier to remember than drab ones.
• Use all the senses to code information or dress up an image. Remember that your mnemonic can contain sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movements and feelings as well as pictures.
• Bringing three dimensions and movement to an image makes it more vivid. Movement can be used either to maintain the flow of association, or can help to remember actions.
• Locate similar mnemonics in different places with backgrounds of those places. This will help to keep similar images distinct and unconfused.

The important thing is that the mnemonic should clearly relate to the thing being remembered and that it should be vivid enough to be clearly remembered whenever you think about it.