Image map: A Periodic Table of Visualization Methods
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Remembering
Creative techniques can help you generate ideas as well as remember them later.
Brainstorming
Brainstorming is the process of rapidly listing as many ideas as you can about a topic or question. You can brainstorm on your own or in a group, but don’t judge the ideas. Just keep writing them in a cluster or a list until you can’t think of any more.
Question: How can we meet growing food demand?
Once you’ve finished the initial brainstorming, select one of the ideas and use it to start a new cluster. By repeating this process, you make deeper creative connections.
Your Turn Brainstorm ideas about a topic that your instructor supplies, or use this topic: How can we reduce bullying? Then choose one of your initial ideas and continue brainstorming to make creative connections and delve more deeply into the topic.
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Visualization
One way to remember an abstract concept or a difficult word is to create a visual version of it. To visualize a concept, follow these steps:
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Your “radius” is the forearm bone that rotates. Your “ulna” is the forearm bone connected at the elbow. Your “humerus” is the large upper arm bone. |
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Radius sounds like “radios.” Ulna sounds like “all know.” Humerus sounds like “humorous.” |
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We “all know” the “humorous” D.J. on our “radios.” |
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Visualization works for four reasons:
- Visual, concrete ideas are easier to remember than abstract ideas.
- Playful and silly ideas are easier to remember than serious ideas.
- Creating a story causes you to repeat the material you are trying to learn.
- Creating a visualization focuses your thoughts on the topic.
Your Turn Think of a difficult term or list of terms that you are dealing with in a class. Create a visualization for the term or terms, following the process above.