Mnemonic Techniques for Memory Impro-

vement

Many people use mnemonic techniques to help them

improve their memory. These techniques can help
them remember how to spell difficult words, recall a
new colleague’s name and memorize information.
There are a variety of mnemonics techniques, so it’s
best to choose one that works for your learning style
and the type of information you need to remember. In
this article, we explain what mnemonic techniques
are, different types of mnemonic techniques and how
to use them.

What are mnemonic techniques?

Mnemonic techniques are ways to help you memorize
a phrase or idea with patterns. Mnemonic techniques
can include songs, poems, rhymes, outlines, images
and acronyms. Mnemonics give meaning to some-
thing ordinary to make it more memorable when you
try to recall it. This technique is useful for storing infor-
mation in both your short- and long-term memory.
Related: The Importance of Cognitive Ability in Your
Career
Types of mnemonic techniques
Here are eight types of mnemonic techniques you can
use:
1. Spelling mnemonics
2. Feature mnemonics
3. Rhyming mnemonics
 4. Note organization mnemonics
5. Alliteration mnemonics
6. Song mnemonics
7. Organization mnemonics
8. Visual mnemonics
1. Spelling mnemonics
Spelling mnemonics help you remember how to spell
a difficult word with patterns, phrases or rules. For ex-
ample, to memorize the spelling of “separate,” you
can use the phrase “there is a rat in separate.” An-
other common spelling mnemonic to remember that
“I” comes before “E” in many words is “Never believe
a lie.”
2. Feature mnemonics
A type of mnemonic memory training involves visually
identifying a prominent feature of a person you are
meeting for the first time. This technique helps you to
associate their name and face better. For example,
you might meet a new colleague named Daniela, who
has large blue eyes. You can remember her as “Blue-
Eyed Daniela” to connect a feature about her appear-
ance to her name so you can recall it quickly when
you meet again.
3. Rhyming mnemonics
Another common mnemonic technique is using rhyme
to memorize information. One well-known example of
a rhyming mnemonic is the phase “In fourteen hun-
dred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean
blue.” The information you want to memorize is the
date Columbus began his travels and knowing it
rhymes with “ocean blue” helps you recall "1492."
You can apply this technique to any information you
need to remember at work.
4. Note organization mnemonics
Some people learn best when they organize their
thoughts into notes. This is a great mnemonic tech-
nique to use in your job, whether you are getting
ready for a presentation or need to memorize new
data. For example, you can form the main ideas into
questions and write them on one side of a notecard
while adding the answers on the opposite side. You
train your brain into seeing questions and remember-
ing the answers when you do this repeatedly.
5. Alliteration mnemonics
When you want to remember a person’s name, alliter-
ation is a convenient tool. If you meet a colleague
named Sabina, you can think of other words that start
with the letter “S” that describe her. You may find
Sabina is sophisticated, sincere and stylish. When you
need to recall her name, you will remember the three
words you associate with her and be able to narrow
down her name to one that begins with the letter “S.”
6. Song mnemonics
Some people learn best when they can sing, so you
can insert the information you want to memorize into a
song. A popular example is the “A-B-C” song that
schoolchildren use to learn the alphabet. When they
sing this repeatedly, they will begin to remember the
order of the alphabet. You can do the same
mnemonic technique at work by putting new informa-
tion into a song format.
7. Organization mnemonics
Grouping information together helps you remember
them more easily. If you have a large group of words
or numbers you need to memorize, you can break
them up to recall them quickly. For example, if you
need to remember the numbers “456159753481,” you
can divide them into smaller groups. If you group them
into “4561 5975 3481,” you may have a better chance
of remembering them.
8. Visual mnemonics
Linking images together involves creating a visual
story to connect the information you need to memo-
rize. Every item leads you to remember the following
article. For example, you may need to remember to
bring your laptop, reading glasses, notepad and pen
to your upcoming meeting. You can create a short
story to link these items together so you don’t forget
any

How to use mnemonic techniques

Follow these guidelines when using mnemonic tech-
niques:
1. Choose the appropriate mnemonic
Choose the correct mnemonic for your situation. For
example, if your goal is to learn how to spell a word,
you may want to use the spelling mnemonic tech-
nique. If you are trying to remember a new em-
ployee’s name, you might use the prominent feature
or alliterative mnemonic technique.
2. Practice the technique
You may want to practice your mnemonic several
times to help you remember it. Some people find they
have an easier time memorizing a name or word when
they practice it repeatedly for several days. This way,
they will have an easier time recalling the information.
3. Repeat the mnemonic to others
You may find it helpful to not only practice your
mnemonic but also say it out loud to other people.
Some people find that they have an easier time mem-
orizing a phrase or word when they hear themselves
say it. You can repeat it to other employees in your
department, particularly if you are trying to remember
the phrase for an upcoming meeting or presentation.

11 Strategies for Improving Learning Re-

tention
With rapid technological advancements, organizations must
support employees with effective training programs.

The end goal of implementing these types of training pro-

grams is to upskill employees on the latest technology, help
them absorb new knowledge, and process it for future appli-
cations. However, if your employees are already bogged
down with their day-to-day responsibilities, they may find it
challenging to retain new information for an extended pe-
riod.

According to the Ebbinghaus’ forgetting curve, humans tend

to halve their memory in days or weeks unless that informa-
tion is consciously re-reviewed. The fading of learning de-
pends on several factors, such as the difficulty of informa-
tion, how meaningful it is to the person, how it’s repre-
sented, and physiological factors like stress and sleep.

Now, you don’t want your employees to forget all that learn-
ing content you put in so much effort to create. So what
strategies and solutions can you deploy to ensure high
learning retention rates?

This article will discuss the most effective learning retention

tips you can implement while training your employees.

What Is Learning Retention?

Learning retention is a person’s ability to transfer new infor-
mation into their long-term memory so that it is easy for
them to recall and put that knowledge to use in the future. In
simpler words, learning retention is all about making new
knowledge stick for a long time.

4 Factors of Learning Retention

Here are a few factors that affect learning retention for an in-
dividual.

1. Interest and motivation

The interest and motivation of a learner behind a learning
program are of uppermost importance. When learning is ac-
companied by a motive, it is often retained for a long time
because the human brain tends to focus more on matters of
interest.
For example, a sales rep would be more motivated to learn
about a CRM than a marketing automation tool. If trained in
both, the seller is more likely to retain the CRM tool knowl-
edge for a longer time compared to the automation tool
knowledge.

2. Repetition
Repetition of the learning material plays an essential role in
learning retention. The more an individual repeats or prac-
tices a task, the better it is retained in their memory.

For example, it’s hard for most kids to learn mathematical

times tables. This is why they are advised to write the tables
on paper and stick them to the study board to revise and re-
peat throughout the day.

3. Association
Paying attention to the meaning and significance of the con-
tent or associating it with real-life scenarios helps individuals
learn quickly and retain the information longer.

4. Use of multiple channels

Different people prefer different learning styles – some are
visual learners, some need hands-on experience, some re-
quire an instructor to guide them, etc. Therefore, it’s impor-
tant to choose the appropriate learning method or technique
to boost learning retention for an individual.

What Is the Learning Retention Pyramid?

The learning pyramid, also known as the “cone of learning,”
was developed by the National Training Laboratory during
the 1960s. It is a theoretical model that illustrates various
learning methods of learning along with their expected re-
tention percentage. The pyramid illustrates how well one
can retain information based on the different techniques
such as listening to a lecture, reading a book, watching
videos, etc.

Lecture
According to the learning pyramid, “Lecture” is one of the
most ineffective methods for learning and retaining informa-
tion. A lecture is a passive form of learning where the
learner simply sits back and listens to information being
spoon-fed to them by the teacher or professor.

Reading
In comparison to a lecture, reading is marginally more effec-
tive when it comes to learning retention. The advantage of
reading over listening to a lecture is that it provides the
learner with reference material to recall the information.

Audio/visual
Audio and visual learning content make it easy for learners
to absorb information. Learning a new skill by watching a
quick video is more convenient and less time-consuming
than reading lengthy, text-heavy documents.
Demonstration
Learning by demonstration involves a teacher or mentor
showing the learner how to perform a task by walking them
through a step-by-step process. The demonstration provides
information more clearly than passive study methods and
helps understand and retain complicated details better.

Discussion
Discussions offer an active, cooperative learning environ-
ment that leads to greater retention of information. Discus-
sions stimulate a learner’s thinking and increase participa-
tion and engagement.

Practice by doing
Getting “hands-on” experience is one of the most effective
learning methods. This learning style allows learners to ap-
ply their knowledge to practice every day, which helps them
retain the information long-term. According to the 70-20-10
model, 70% of learning comes from employee experiences.

Teaching others
According to the learning pyramid, teaching others is the
most effective way to master a subject and retain knowledge

for a long time. If one can accurately and correctly teach a

subject to others, they’ll have a good mastery of the con-
cepts and superior knowledge retention.
11 Strategies to Improve Learning Reten-
tion
Let’s discuss a few strategies to improve learning retention.

1. Spaced learning
Spaced learning is an effective learning retention strategy
that helps people learn quickly and efficiently while providing
the added benefit of minimizing the loss of knowledge that
occurs with one-time learning. It’s based on the concept that
learning is enhanced when knowledge is repeated after cer-
tain intervals.

To implement spaced learning in corporate training, break

down the extended employee training programs into several

sessions or modules of shorter durations with spaced inter-

vals. Reintroduce parts of these sessions multiple times
over the next few days or weeks for learners to recall and
retain information long-term.
2. Blended learning
Blended learning combines the best of two training environ-
ments – traditional face-to-face learning and eLearning – to
enable learning retention for new-age learners.

Blended learning software makes it possible to access train-

ing resources both online and offline. It engages all types of
learners – those who learn better in a traditional classroom
environment and those who work best with semi-autono-
mous, computer-based training.

Implementing blended learning for your corporate training

programs will help ensure that you reach all of your employ-
ees, whether they are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learn-
ers. It only makes sense that reinforcing training by activat-
ing more senses helps retain information longer than in a
traditional approach.

3. Microlearning
Microlearning is defined as breaking down learning content
into small, bite-sized information modules. Microlearning
helps with learning retention as it is much easier for people
to retain knowledge by completing a single 10-minute learn-
ing module daily than watching a 1-hour webinar or taking a
long comprehensive course in a single sitting.

Because of the dwindling attention spans of millennial em-

ployees and the continuous distractions employees face
while working from home, corporate trainers must incorpo-
rate microlearning in online training programs to ensure that
employees are engrossed in training. This approach will not
overwhelm the learners by not delivering too much informa-
tion at once and will help boost learning retention.

4. Video learning
Video learning is an effective way to deliver knowledge and
consume content in the digital age. This is because visual
representations make learners easily perceive and store the
information in their memory longer.

Implementing video training for your employees helps cater

to various learning needs of all employees, increases knowl-
edge retention with engaging knowledge transferring, and
reduces learning time. In fact, a study conducted by the
SAVO group confirmed that presenting learning materials
visually increases knowledge retention by up to 65%. You
can get started with video training by drawing inspiration
from these best examples of training videos.

5. Interactive and engaging content

An excellent way for corporate trainers to bump their learn-
ing retention statistics is by creating interactive and engag-
ing content for their employees. Some examples of this in-
clude:

• Creating a narrative with situations and characters that

employees can relate to
• Creating animation videos to illustrate complex pro-
cesses interactively
• Making the content relevant to the job
• Adding interactive quizzes, surveys, Q&A
• Using eye-catching visuals
• Adding personality, honesty, or well-placed humor to
drive home key points
6. Apply learning to the real world
The human brain finds it harder to memorize things that
seem unrelated or irrelevant to its environment or needs.
Therefore, it’s beneficial to create learning units directly ap-
plicable to your learners’ working lives as it helps them un-
derstand how training will impact their work. As a result,
learning retention is far more likely.

You may improve this and turn learners into active partici-
pants by encouraging them to discover the usefulness of the
concepts they are studying for themselves.

Simulations are an excellent method to demonstrate how

your learning objectives apply to the real world. They allow
learners to see the benefits or consequences of taking par-
ticular actions in a risk-free learning environment before ap-
plying their new skills in the real world.

7. Teach others
Another way to improve learning retention is by teaching
others. Teaching others can include assisting a peer in their
studies, discussing what you’ve learned with a colleague or
friend, or participating in online discussions.

By engaging with the learning material enough to explain it

clearly to others, one can reinforce their own learning.
Teaching helps retain more information by allowing learners
to interact with the learning material in new and creative
ways.

8. Learning in the flow of work

Learning in the flow of work is an effective learning retention
method, especially for corporate training programs. It en-
ables employees to quickly access answers to their queries
– or a piece of learning material – in the moment of need.

When learning is visible, present, and always-on in the sys-

tems that employees use daily, it becomes part of their daily
life and bridges the gap between learning and doing. Learn-
ers can make more informed decisions faster and address
any challenges with the embedded access to information
they have at the precise time of need. Learning in the flow
drives productivity, increases engagement, and improves
learning retention.

With a digital adoption platform (DAP) like Whatfix as your

learning in the flow of work solution, you can create bite-
sized training programs in engaging formats for your em-
ployees to access at the moment of need, with in-app guid-
ance and self-help support, all overlaying on to your applica-
tions and digital processes.

9. Take tests
The next suggestion to boost learning retention is taking
tests. Getting tested on new information helps retain the in-
formation and monitor progress.

It is a good idea to incorporate quizzes, tests, or assess-

ments into your training courses for corporate training. If the
pre-test is meant to challenge your employees, the post-
training tests should be designed to help learners retrieve
the knowledge and keep track of their progress.

10. Learn from mistakes

Apart from information retrieval and progress monitoring,
testing is effective because it allows you to make mistakes.
Mistakes are vital for learning retention.

The human brain pays attention to mistakes, making the

event memorable and preventing future errors in the same
area. Making a mistake is an opportunity to learn and im-
prove. Use mistakes to identify areas of improvement and
spend extra time for further retention.

11. Use a mix of learning formats

Workforces are made up of many personality types that all
have unique styles of learning. While one person may find
video training a more effective learning format, another may
prefer job shadowing. It’s important for L&D professionals to
implement various types of employee training and learning
programs to accommodate different styles of learning.

Multimodal learning programs bring together different em-

ployee training methods to build custom learning strategies
for different types of learners – increasing knowledge reten-
tion, training engagement, and ROI for training programs.

This kind of learning is designed to make use of a number of

human senses, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic
(VARK) – all to enhance understanding and help learners
remember concepts bette