A study by Bower and Winzenz (1) proved the superiority of visual imagery using paired-association learning. Many students are visual learners, but do not know that visual imagery can be advantageous when encoding. The first technique is forming visual images. These techniques can increase your chances of success on exams, give you a leg up over your classmates, and add necessary tools to your tool box. Here are five encoding techniques that can be acquired: forming visual images, self-reference, generating information, organizing information, and relating ideas to their survival value. There are many ways to encode information but there are a few that stand out to be the best. Encoding is the process of getting and storing information into the long-term memory. Rote memorization is the repeating of information again and again until it’s memorized, but in fact this information isn’t being properly encoded. Previously, you probably studied for exams using rote memorization that lead you to forget what you memorized following the exam.

Although there isn’t much you can do to change the amount of work you’ll encounter, you can do something about the way you study for the exams. Many freshmen enter college not prepared for work they’ll be asked to complete and the difficulty of college exams. Before you know it, you’ll be eyeballs deep in readings, homework, papers, and tests, with no tools in your toolbox to combat the endless work you’re going to face.

We can safely assume that not one of these thoughts is centered around studying and getting good grades, which is a huge mistake.

When you’re a college freshman, you’re a bundle of emotions and have a million thoughts about what college is going to be like, running through your mind. By Makayla Bradley and Catherine Cunningham

What is encoding in psychology