We have featured the excellent educational YouTube channel SciShow before because it is a terrific resource for teachers and students alike. Recently, lklSciShow came out with a video that introduces the concept of using mnemonics as a memory strategy.
At SMARTS, we love mnemonic strategies. In fact, we devoted all of Unit 5 to helping students learn how to use these strategies effectively.
Sometimes students can be initially resistant to using mnemonics because it can seem like one more thing students must memorize. If students see mnemonic strategies as extra work instead of a shortcut, they will be reluctant to use them. This video addresses this misconception by showing students how using mnemonic strategies can make memorization easier.
SciShow describes how using mnemonics links up new memories with already established memories:
Videos like this can be a great tool to hook students’ attention at the beginning of a lesson. Luckily for us, all SciShow videos are designed to be used in classrooms and don’t require specific licensing, so check them out!
For more on mnemonics, be sure to check out SMARTSOnline, Unit 5. Let us know in the comments how you use mnemonics in education and in life. Do you have any specific tips and tricks for utilizing mnemonics?
- Elizabeth Ross, M.A., SMARTS Media Manager