STEP 1: ASSOCIATION

ABOUT the THEORY

The term ‘association’ may sound technical to you; however it is one of the very basic principles of daily life: One thing reminds you of something else.

One element is connected with another element; and this connection is called association.

There is no learning without association, there is no human advancement without association; this is step 1 of learning and memory techniques.

Very important: Without mastering this key-element you will NOT progress.

Although you use it already every day, for the purposes of memory techniques it has to be made clear what the function of association is in remembering techniques.

In the theory part, EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STEP 1: ASSOCIATION is covered to understand (and apply) this principle.

Here are the topics covered in this chapter:

1. WHAT IS ASSOCIATION?

2. HOW TO CREATE AN ASSOCIATION

3. EXAMPLES

4. TRAINING & TESTING

5. HINTS & TIPS

6. SUMMARY & OUTLOOK

In more detail:

1. What is association?

Here you find a Definition and other names and why it is so vital and important; also why it is the first step in remembering.

2. How to create an association

Here you learn that building associations is really great fun; kids know it; you know (or knew it); however in school we are led away from it. Why? I really, really don’t know. In my class you will find giggle and outright laughter. When was learning fun (in your own past)? May I guess: when you were young. Very young. Come on, bring back enthusiasm for life. This is what you learn here.

There is also one simple question to test if a connection = association is good enough.

3. Three examples

Car keys: Do you/did you ever misplace your car-keys? Then you will appreciate this example.

And two more examples in great detail to get started.

4. Training & Testing

Yes, you could devise your own exercises. I even tell you how to do this.

However, and you may have guessed this: I recommend Game 1.

Why?

It is simple.

Due to the huge databank, it is always different.

It is fast.

This is by far the easiest and fasted way to master the first step of Remembering.

And isn’t that what you want?

5. Hints & Tips

In most cases students pick up this skill very easily. So easily that they even think: why didn’t I do this before?

Nevertheless, very occasionally it can happen that students don’t get the 10 out of 10. Then here you find some ideas that can help and push you towards learning this skill.

ð  Memory Kaleidoscope (great idea to involve all the five senses)

ð  Rainbow Exercise (how to to bring back bright colour in your imagination)

ð  Teach Kids

Say, you kind of understand what is going on, however the associations = connections are somewhat less than vibrant. Then try this: teach your kids. Or your grand-kids. I started off my daughter at the age of 3. She loved it. And here is what WILL happen: THEY will teach YOU what works. Simply, look into their face and their eyes, and you will simply know when a connection is strong enough. And by the way: this is not only great quality time with the kids, it also is the basis for enormous creativity later on in life. Nothing wrong with that, we might agree upon.

6. Summary & Outlook

Step 1: Association may be a (very) short exercise for you. However I repeat: without this there is no remembering at all. It is essential.

So, now the question arises: what to do next?

Follow the three basic steps, and Remembering will come easy to you, and it will be a very, very valuable skill to you FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE !!!

CLICK HERE to get started

Pay attention to this:

Start learning about remembering a long time before you have to sit exams and when you have to deal with panic as well. It is easy, however memory techniques is a skill learned over time.

It is smart to plan ahead, and get the basics right.

For some students it is easy and straight forward, and for some, well they have to practice a little bit longer. However, just like any other skill, may it be learning how to drive, or how to type, or how to bake a cake, EVERYBODY can learn it.

Just like the finger-exercises when learning to play the piano, so play and practice this game. And you only have to practice for a rather short time. And then it becomes second nature to you; you may call it even: it becomes normal.

About money

What do you get for your €9.99?

You get an elegant and easy to use exercise tool AND all the theory you need.

All that for 9.99 euros.

That is the price of a small book.

It is definitely less that a grind.

And it is a fraction of the pain you eliminate when studying for exams.

Remembering increases your confidence!!!

Remembering decreases your revision time. Quite a lot.

Here you make one of the best investments you ever in your life.

And rememeber: You can contact me personally

CLICK HERE to ask me a question.

What else could I offer you to get started?

BONUS:

Practice Game 1 and Life becomes more interesting.

More colourful, more exciting.

Why?

Do you remember kids, and when they come home from playschool and excitedly they tell you what happened. There is a good chance that you haven’t felt that alive for a long time. Step 1 imitates the thinking of little kids. You are simply re-discovering what you did a long time anyway. It is natural to have fun. And that is part and parcel what you learn here.

Another BONUS:

Should you feel you still cannot master this step, then you can contact me.

CLICK HERE to ask me a question.

As often as you wish.

Until you do have mastered this step.

Your only decision you have to make is: When do you get started?

You cannot fail, as I guarantee you that I will stand by your side until you succeed.

And once you start practicing: You WILL succeed.

CLICK HERE to learn & practice Step 1: Association

About GAME  1

And some info about the Practice Section.

I call it Game.

It is less a game but more a teaching aid, a training tool.

To use so that you learn this step of Memory Training in a playful and relaxed and easy way.

For illustration purposes I have included some screenshots.

First, you will see this:

Press: GET STARTED

Then: there are three main buttons:

Training
Revising
Testing

In Training:
You will find a series of 10 slides; each displays a word on the left and a word on the right. In this section you may connect both words as you have learned in the text section of Step 1: Association.

In Revising:
You will find the same word-pairs, however in random sequence now; the display of words is here in two steps. 
Revising means: Read the word on the left and recall the word that you connected with it (the word on the right). Should the connected word not come back, then you have the chance here to make the connection stronger.

In Testing:
Again, the same word-pairs, however again in a jumbled-up sequence. Now, only the word on the left will be displayed. On the right you will find some space to type (only the first three letters). 
Good luck.
(Keep in mind: Wishing you luck is only a convention. By now, you know it has nothing to do with luck, it is your SKILL that you are testing. Maybe it should read: Please, show that you are a STAR!!!)

After the 10th slide / set of words the RESULT page will automatically come up.

Play the game as often as you wish.
Enjoy, and have fun!!!

CLICK HERE for Theory & Practice

Here is the: Result Screen

Some Remarks:

I believe you have achieved mastery of this step once you have 10 out of 10 three times in a row.

Congratulations.

After practicing a couple of times your average training time should be around the 2 minute mark. That is a good rule of thumb. That is good and ok and very acceptable.

Should you have a competitive streak, then it is quite possible to aim for the one minute mark.

Anything below that is the reserve of ‘olympic’ standard, and only for those who have too much time on their hands.

If you get 10 out of 10: fine.

If you get 8 or 9 out of 10: Play again and see what happens.Most likely it was a lapse of concentration. Especially if you practice in the evening. That is ok; start again. Just like in the gym, you don’t run your best times every time.

If you have regularly 8 or 9 out of 10: then your associations are not crazy enough.Read the theory part again, and do allow yourself to go into overdrive concerning the fantasy between the two items.

If you have 7 or less out of 10: Please, please, please read the theory part. Especially the section that deals with when problems arise.

And as mentioned before:

If your problems persist (7 or less out of 10), feel free to contact me. And I mean it.

You have made the decision to learn a new skill, and I will do my utmost to help you along the way.

CLICK HERE for Theory & Practice

Some Remarks about the revision button:

Some Remarks about the revision button:

You will notice that you use the revision button less and less the more proficient you feel.

My son usually wants to show off and refuses to use the revison button.

Ah, so much testosterone.

It is a little bit like removing the safety net (of recall).

However, should you be an auditory person, then you really will appreciate this revision cycle.

What is an auditory person, you might ask.

At the moment it is en vogue to talk about learning styles. And broadly speaking, students may be categorised as: visual learners or auditory learners or kinesthetic learners. Visual people take in most of the information through their eyes (= visual); they love pictures/images; auditory people love to hear lectures; and kinestetic people like to touch materials. Actually it is not necessary even to find out what style you prefer; however: the visual students are faster than auditory which in turn are faster than kinestetic people. In practice this means: Visual learners make stronger connections naturally, and therefore may skip the revision cycle sooner. Auditory learners simply need one revision cycle (more) than visual learners, and maybe the kinesthetic people might even appreciate two revision cycles. Nothing wrong here, that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.

My own experience: I am an auditory learner.

I have learned to make strong connections (like the visual learners); however it takes me a moment or so longer to recall the picture. I am solid in my remembering and recall, but I will never reach the speeds of visual learners. Ah, therefore competitions are not for me. Thank God, I don’t have a very competitive streak.

It is a bit like learning running. In this analogy example: I can run; with practice I also did improve; quite nicely even. However I will never run the 10k in a competition. In analogy with memory techniques, here is one example: At present I can memorise a deck of cards in under 5 minutes; and with practice I will get it to under 3 minutes. I could be in the top 20 in the memoriad competition, but not in the top 10 (see www.memoriad.com). Well, that is just something I have to accept. However again: a deck of cards in under 5 (or 3) minutes, that’s not bad either, is it?

CLICK HERE for Theory & Practice