Short Term Memory when it comes to math and physics

[H.M. Murdock]

Im learning math and physics on my own and I have had some problems when it comes to remembering how to do topics about math and physics. Currently I am trying to make more summaries, and a list of math and physics topics in order to remember more about them.

Do you guys have any advice or method in order to study math topics, to apply them more, and to remember them in a less mechanical way?

 

[kingdomof]

Consider the fact that all long term memory was prior to it's state, short term. Do some problems or study with friends and family.

 

[Saladsamurai]

Aside from practicing problems like kingdomof said, I also like to do a mental review of the topics I have learned (in any particular subject) up until that point. Before I start a new topic, I will say to myself, " Okay, what was the first topic I learned in this chapter (section,etc.). What was the second..."

I will try to remember, in order, all of the topics learned thus far; how I applied them to some example problems (though I don't remember the specific calculations...just how to apply the concepts), and how did one topic transition into another (if it did at all. And if it didn't..why didn't it?)

It only takes about five or ten minutes to do before starting something new. And if you keep up on it, the earlier stuff starts to come really easy and you start to notice exactly what concepts you have trouble with.

Oh yeah, and drink plenty of water. Seriously. If you search around, I am sure you will find plenty of studies that link dehydration to memory loss (at least short-term memory loss).

 

[tmc]

Do summaries of what you read, this will help tremendously, as you will then be able to reread this multiple times (whereas rereading the actual notes multiple times would take hours and be extremely boring)

Also, learn to deal with not having remembered the material. Bunch of equations you have a hard time learning? Learn to derive them. You can count on the fingers of one hand the number of independent equations you're going to need on your exams; learn those and use them to derive the other ones. Plus, you'll learn much more this way than by just memorizing stuff. Same thing for proofs; don't try to remember how a proof is done; practice coming up with ingenious solutions.

I myself have practically no short-term memory when it comes to school. I can look at problems I've solved two weeks ago and be totally dumbfounded as to how I ever solved it, then look at my solution and be like, "huh. That was a really smart idea."

Also, stay away from bio.

 

[metalgirl2045]

This might be far too much work, but for fairly large things try to find out about their historical background like how they were discovered/derived and maybe any very interesting uses they've had. It's much easier to remember something with a story to it.

 

[mal4mac]

Learn how to learn, from a real expert.

This book showed me how to get straight A's in science subjects:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671495194/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[H.M. Murdock]

Thanks a lot
I will try putting them into practice

Oh yeah, and drink plenty of water. Seriously. If you search around, I am sure you will find plenty of studies that link dehydration to memory loss (at least short-term memory loss).

Over here we have sometimes like 32º and I normaly study at 12:00 haha. I will try doing that. I have experienced slight lost of memory due to that.