Two techniques that we have learnt so far are Mnemonic Devices and Chunking. Let me introduce you to my favourite method. It’s called ‘The Memory Palace’ or the ‘Method of LOCI’.
This technique has a very interesting history to it. It will help you remember the ‘chronology’ (order or sequence) of events far better than any other method. Honestly, once you know the chronology, learning dates in history will be a cakewalk for you.
So, how did this system begin? Around five century B.C., a poet called Simonides was attending a banquet. While he stepped out to speak to someone, the hall crashed and everyone inside died. Now came the question of identifying who sat where in the hall. Fortunately for them, Simonides had memorised their location and was able to help identify the deceased. This made him realise the value of location (loci) in remembering objects, people and events. Very soon the Greeks and the Romans began to visualise and memorise entire speeches by making a connection between the oratory hall and their speeches. Hence, we know the secret of the great Roman orators who made flawless speeches without a paper in their hands!
Imagine the next time you need to make a speech in your school and you are able to do it without a paper in your hand. That would definitely win you many brownie points with your classmates and teachers. So get ready to add this tool to your memory.
What’s the concept?
It is a very simple technique. You need to assign an event, object or any piece of information that you plan to memorise to a location in your room, house or street.
Let’s take an example
Recall your bedroom and all the objects that it has like the bed, dressing table, lamp, fan, study table, cupboard, book shelf, etc. Each of these objects is then associated with what you wish to learn. Now you need to move in the order of the objects in the room and recall each object with the association you have made with it. Let’s see how you can learn about the Indian freedom movement using this method
Create a ‘Memory Palace’ in five steps
Let’s learn how to create a ‘Memory Palace’ in your room.
1. Choose your Palace- The first step is choosing a place. The trick here is to choose a place that you are very familiar with, like your own bedroom or a street that you take to reach your house. The more familiar you are with the place, the better will be your ability to use it as a ‘Memory Palace’.
2. List the distinctive features- Now identify the prominent features in the room like the bed, cupboard, etc. Or in case of a street the various shops that there are on it. Look only for permanent features and not those that can be moved around. This will confuse you later.
3. Imprint the Palace – Close your eyes and you should be able to recall the place in your mind with 100 % clarity. If you have any doubts, walk down the street or open your eyes and view the room again. This is an important exercise and must be done very sincerely.
4. Association – This is the most important part of the technique. Slowly and gradually start making associations between the objects in the Palace and what you need to remember. Make the picture vivid and clear and establish an association between the two. For example if you are trying to remember the Indian freedom movement, and the first event is the Revolt of 1857, associate it with the door to your room. Let’s imagine that the door to your room when opened caused the Revolt of 1857. A door is used to walk in or walk out. So, now imagine that the British East India Company walks out and the Queen of England has walked in. This in fact was one of the biggest effects of the Revolt.
5. Visit your Palace – Now that you have created the Palace in your mind, revisit it so that it gets imprinted and stays that way for a long time.
All you need to do is follow the five simple steps and create a ‘Memory Palace’ in your brain. Just a word of caution. Use subjects that require sequencing in them. For example, you have to remember what happened after what while learning about the Indian freedom struggle. Also, do not change the order of the events or the objects in the room. Follow the path, one object at a time, and make your clear associations.
The next time you need to learn a chapter in history, recreate it as a palace in your room. All you need to do in the exam hall is to walk around your own room, recalling one event after another!
(The author has over two decades of teaching experience in well-established schools)
