As we learn new topics, we study to remember the material as best as possible. To do this, we can take notes, review, and test ourselves to see if we retain the information. If we find ourselves forgetting the material, we usually repeat the process until we remember.
The traditional way of learning by listening to a lecture, taking notes, and reading them over and over again can make it hard to focus, causing your mind to wander. Thankfully, there are various strategies that are used to promote improved memory, with some of the most beneficial techniques being mnemonics and acronyms.
Mnemonics and acronyms are ways to organize information in a compact and simple-to-remember way. Large amounts of material can be broken down into easy-to-digest chunks through these two techniques. Keep reading to learn more about each learning device.
Mnemonics
If you’ve never heard of the term mnemonics, you would be surprised to find out that you’ve been using it for years without even realizing it! Mnemonics is the process in which you use your previous knowledge to learn new topics. There are nine types of mnemonics: music, name, expression or word, model, ode or rhyme, note organization, connection, spelling, and image mnemonics. They are helpful in remembering long phrases, numerical patterns, and word chains but are not considered words. An example of this would be the statement “Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain,” where the first letter in each word is helpful in remembering the order of the colors in the rainbow.
Mnemonics have been shown to be a useful learning technique for every age, learning setting, and content (science, English, math, etc.). Think of mnemonics as building blocks. To stack the blocks higher and higher, you need to have the first one on the ground!
This learning method can be incorporated throughout any lesson plan and is helpful for any student. Continue reading to learn more about the different types of mnemonics.
Music- Music is a powerful tool for learning. Not only does music improve dementia patients' communication skills, but it can also help individuals remember important information in their daily life.
Think of brands that have jingles on TVs, such as State Farm, McDonald’s, and Huggies. You probably can think of their slogan! This is because the music sticks out to consumers. If you have material that you need to remember, creating a song is a great way for you to commit it to memory. Another popular example of this is the “ABCs.”
Name- This branch of mnemonics is used to create a name of a person or thing by using the first letters of each word. An example of this is ROY G. BIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet).
Expression/Word- Out of all the mnemonics, this type is the most common. The first letter of each word is used to create a phrase or word. An example of this would be the order of operations in math. Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply, Divide, Add, Subtract (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally).
Model- Model mnemonics is a visual representation of information. This is used through a pie chart, a pyramid model of stages, a circular sequence model, and a 5-box sequence. To recall information the best, you should use these models along with additional words and lists.
Ode/Rhyme- When using an ode or rhyme mnemonic, it is exactly as it sounds! They can be short poems or a few sentences that rhyme to help you remember important information. A popular one would be, “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue”. Another popular one to help with spelling is “I before e except after c.”
Note Organization- This type of mnemonic isn’t quite as whimsical as the others. This is more tactical by creating notecards to prepare you for potential test questions. You write the question on one side of the card and then the answer on the back. This form of studying can help you quiz yourself to see what you can remember and what topics you need to review.
Connection- The core meaning of mnemonics is to connect existing information with new information. An example of connection is by remembering the difference between longitude and latitude. With longitude, you remember that it is long, and there is an N in longitude, connecting to the north. Latitude does not have an N. This helps you remember that longitude is vertical and latitude is horizontal.
Spelling- Spelling mnemonics can be used to help you remember how to spell words. Geography can be used with the saying, “George Edward’s Old Grandma Rode A Pig Home Yesterday. Spelling mnemonics are also frequently used hand in hand with the Ode/Rhyme mnemonic. The saying “I before e except after c,” used in a previous example, is the perfect example of this.
Image- This mnemonic is fun and can be personalized. When learning about a topic, you can use a part of a word to create a scene that will make it easier to remember a term or key information. An example of this is to draw a limp bat, and this could help you remember Barbiturates, Alcohol, and Tranquilizers.
Acronyms
An acronym is a smaller word that is composed of the first letter of each of the words. An example of this is the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Acronyms are typically easier to recall and can assist you in remembering what the letters stand for. They are similar to mnemonics in that they use your previous knowledge, but they are a type of word formation and are recognized as words.
Pharmacology - Mnemonics and Acronyms
Using both mnemonics and acronyms will help the learning process. They act as support beams to previous knowledge, allowing you to build upon it. They are used hand-in-hand and can help any student remember otherwise complicated information.
Mnemonics and acronyms are invaluable learning devices that benefit everyone at every age and learning level. They are especially crucial when studying Pharmacology. Mnemonics comes into play in memorizing important medications, such as the phrase “Optimally Lower Olga’s Lionheart”. This fun saying helps students remember that medications that end in “olol” are beta blockers.
Beginning to dive into Pharmacology can feel overwhelming at first with all the various medications, terms, drug safety, and more. To enhance your learning experience, you can research materials that will support your education. A great resource to include in your studies is Pharmacology Mnemonics. This book will provide you with useful mnemonics and acronyms that will improve your knowledge retention for all things Pharmacology.