Through trial and error I am learning what it takes to run this seemingly never ending marathon race called med school. I find myself constantly experimenting with new and better ways to understand memorize, and learn material. Here’s my top list of Medical Memory Tools that helps me pack all the information and retain it in my overtaxed brain.
1). Medical Mnemonics – this is always a good fall back. When I have a list or an order that’s essential, I always rely on mnemonic shortcuts. The great thing is you can create your own or by searching the web you’re likely to find a good one that was created by another med student.
Example:
Oh Oh Oh To Touch And Feel A Girl’s Very Soft Hands = Cranial Nerves
Some Say Money Matters But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More = Sensory/Motor/Both
2). Storytelling – the stranger and funnier it is, the more likely you are to remember it.
Example:
When you go to Vegas (CN 10), remember to bring your Jug (Jugular foramen/ internal jugular vein) of wine, your lip Gloss (Glossopharyngeal CN 9) and accessories! (Spinal accessory nerve, CN 11).
3). Slide Pumping – going through the PowerPoint slides MULTIPLE times to absorb material is a long tedious process, but by meticulously going over them, you discover more and more details you missed. I utilize the “Rule of Three Views” – Preview – Review – Re-review!
4). Flashcards – I’ve been using flashcards since I was in grade school. When I learn a new subject that’s very straight forward, I use flashcards to help me memorize the facts. It helps me keep the information straight so I don’t get confused on an exam. Embryology is perfect for this technique!
Example:
Front side of the flash card: What is derived from the uretic bud?Back side of the flash card: Renal Pelvis, Major Calyx, Minor Calyx, Ureter and Collecting Duct
5). iPad – this is essential for me, especially for anatomy. I have several different apps to help me memorize name, location, innervation, arterial supply and venous drainage. The apps “quiz” me on everything I need to know – especially for lab.
Example:
Netter’s Atlas for iPad
Visible Body – Anatomy Atlas
Pocket Anatomy – The Interactive Human Body
6). White Board – I always use my white board when I need to memorize a process or sequence of events with several complex parts. I draw the process out multiple times explaining it to myself as I go. I also add something additional each time I draw it, to make sure I keep expanding what I already know.
Example:
Renin – Angiotensin – Aldosterone System
Arterial Flow in the Thorax
Branches of Nerves
7). Group Study – after I’ve reviewed a topic a few times, I’ll partner up with someone and do a question/answer session to see what I don’t know. It’s a great way to test knowledge and see where you need to focus. A lot of times someone may have a good way to remember a topic that you didn’t think of. Or, they’ll teach you a topic you didn’t know or understand.
8). Practice Questions – at the end of every chapter, there’s always a section of questions to test your knowledge. These are perfect because they always test the main concepts brought up in lectures. I try to do practice questions every night, I’m not always 100%, but they’re practice- that’s how I learn.
Example:
BRS Questions – perfect for anatomy
9). Games – online there are a variety of games that are available to help you improve your understanding of a topic. This is a good way to relax and learn at the end of the day.
10). Videos – I am a huge fan of videos. If I don’t understand something, it helps me learn when I can watch a video. I primarily use YouTube videos to help me remember clinical correlations. For some reason, I can always remember patients in the videos and it helps me identify the clinical correlation.
Examples:
Khan Academy
Shotgun Histology
Kaplan
Memorization has been criticized by those who say that being able to reason is more important than knowing facts. My response is that of course reasoning is important, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know facts as well. Memorizing facts give you a foundation upon which to reason. As we study we end up doing both. In any case, we don’t have a choice. Memorization is a huge part of the learning process during the first year of med school.
Funny thing about memory . . . I may not be able to remember today’s date but I can remember the name of every bone in the human hand!
Heather Bergdahl 