Memory Technique - Words and Numbers

If you're like me and you find it difficult to remember large words and numbers,
especially if they appear to have no apparent meaning,
then this technique, I find, can help.

Large words
For example:

I've taken the word -
 
    APO - OMEPRAZOLE

Large numbers
For example:

I've invented a number using 2 dice.

I rolled the 2 dice together, 12 times,
getting 12 numbers (shaking well
before each roll to break up the
previous number, and then rolling
generously).

But, if you do that, you can't have
no. 1. So, I just subtracted 1 from
each number, and ended up with -

         283571358446

                                                                                        (Oops! I forgot that you can't have
                                                                                         zero either! Oh well.... )


                                                                                       Memory Technique

                    Step 1  
                    Write down, preferably,

                       -  in black lettering
                       -  on white paper,

                    as this gives the sharpest contrast
                    and is easiest to see,
                    (though you can use whatever
                      colours you like),

                      -  the word or the number,
                           spacing the letters or numbers
                           out

                    Put each learning task,
                      -  on a separate piece of paper,
                      -  whatever size of paper that it
                            needs
               
For a word -

Work out which are the syllables,
(groups of letters that you naturally say together, like in a small word).

Put a box around each.

Link the boxes of syllables that belong in one word, together with a line, like this -

For a number -

Have a look for easily recognisable patterns.

Put a box around each one.

Link the boxes together with a line, like this -

Step 2   

Leave these pieces of paper around your house or place or work,

in easily seen places that you frequent often, such as the,

  -  kitchen table

  -  fridge door

  -  work desk

Step 3

As you go about your daily activities,

  -  have an occasional look at your word or number

  -  say it out aloud, if you like

Do this repeatedly, and over time, 

it will sink into your memory.

I find it easier to remember a syllable if it has some sort of meaning to me,

such as,

             APO     -  I think this is an Indian word or name (not sure)

             O          -  Oh

             ME       -  me

             PRA     -  praline  (a sweet)

             ZOLE   -  Zoli  (a girl's name that I know of) 

Step 4

After a while, 

you'll notice that you're saying the word or number out aloud 

without looking at it.

Keep doing this until you can say the word or number

    -  4 times in a row.

    -  It can be slowly. But as long as it's correct.

It helps if you try to visualise (see in your mind) each syllable, or pattern of numbers

as you say the whole word or number.

When you can do this smoothly, but it doesn't have to be fast,

then you can go on to the next step.

Step 5

Take some time to not look at your word or number, and,

  -  say it out aloud

  -  write it down, and say it out aloud as you do

  -  check that what you have written,

      is correct

When you can do this step smoothly,

then you have learnt your word or number !

Step 6

It pays to keep the piece of paper so that you can check at a later date,

if you need to make sure that you are still remembering the word or number correctly.

For Studying                                                         This technique, can be used in general terms                   for study purposes. Just keep -                                        -  one idea, or group of facts                                          -  to each page, whatever size of paper is                           needed                                                                                                                                                For example -                                                              The page shown here,                                              which shows the Irish Gaelic alphabet that I'm                learning (from "Irish Language Alphabet" by                Bitesize Irish Gaelic.com 2012).                                                                                                                      Happy studying, if this helps you   :)                                                                                   

(c) Katherine Stuart 2015   

               

Storms over Darwin

I was out and about at dawn
this morning, in Darwin,
(Northern Territory, Australia),
and there were some storms.

There are often impressive
colour displays in the weather here,
so I thought I would share this.

A rainbow often appears here.
Maybe that has something to do
with the large shopping centre
open air carpark below.











(c) Katherine Stuart 2014

Taking a Break

From now, for a few weeks, I'll be taking a break.

So, unless anything interesting happens,
there won't be any blog entries.

See you  !!   :)

Good Tidings

Merry Christmas
to all those who celebrate this.









Happy New Year
to all those party goers.











Happy holidays 
to all those who are going on them.









For all those who have to work
over this time of the year,
Peace be with you.

Things for me are a blank page
at the moment.
I'm having faith and seeing what happens.

I hope that everyone enjoys
what they are doing   :)

Behind the Scenes - Photography Area #1

This is a simple method, that I have been using to photograph
my creative work for my blogs etc.
This is at a very basic level, using the bedroom, and optimising the light available
to get the best possible result with minimal available equipment.



1. The Surface

Firstly, I prepare the bed, which I use as the
surface to put the work on.

All that I've done, is,
pulled the under sheet tight,
and tucked it in at the sides.
Then, pulled the over sheet tight
and tucked it in at the sides as well.

Then, any wrinkles,
I've levelled out
by drawing my fingers across the bed
and over the sides.

2. The light source
So far, I have found that natural light
is easier to work with
and produces a better result
than artificial light.

In this method, I'm using natural light.

So next, I open the curtains up at the window,
wide enough to let most of the light in.

For optimum light quality,
I've found that I've needed
the angle of light coming in through the window
to be direct, relative to the position of the sun,
as opposed to reflective (in general terms).

This means that the sun needs to be on the same
side of the house as the window.

                                                                   In my last bedroom, this occurred in the morning.
                                                                   But, in this bedroom, it occurs in the afternoon.

                                                                   It was a bit of trial and error, to find the time of day
                                                                   when the light was at it's best. Not too dull and not
                                                                   too bright.

                                                                   With the first bedroom, it was about 10am.
                                                                   With this bedroom, it is about 2pm.

                                                                   When the light is too dull, then the photo looks grey.
                                                                   When the light is too bright, then there is a lot of
                                                                   contrast (very light areas and very dark areas).

                                                                   So, when the light is about right,
                                                                   I place the creative work on the surface.
                                                                   These photos were taken from 1pm - 1.30pm.

3. Placing the work on the surface
This just involves finding a place on the surface
which has the best light falling on it,
and is going to be easy to access
using the camera.

I've placed the painting here
at the end of the bed,
as this spot has the best light
and I can stand behind the bed
to easily lean over to take the photo.

4. Taking the photo
I have used "no flash",
as with the "flash" there was too much contrast.

Here, I have just leant over the end of the bed.

Getting a good photo, involves -

-  adjusting the focal length
    (Withdraw - Towards)
    to make the subject fill most of the frame.

-  tipping the camera slightly
    from side to side
    until you find where
    the edges of the subject
    (especially things of a square nature,
    such as this painting)
    line up evenly with the edges of the frame
    otherwise it will look distorted.
                                                                       Unless that's the effect that you're after.

                                                                    The edge of this painting has gone a little wavy
                                                                    from the sealer that I put on it.
                                                                    So, in this case, it may be better
                                                                    not to include the grey background in the photo.
                                                                    Or, you can crop it out later when you edit,
                                                                    and that will give straight sides as well.

                                                                    Then, take a deep breath,
                                                                    having your fingers at opposite positions
                                                                    on the camera,
                                                                    to minimise twist when you take the photo,
                                                                    and press the button !


(c) Katherine Stuart 2014                                                                                               
                                     
 

Behind the Scenes - The Office Area #2

Here you can see that I've become a little more organised with my office space  :)

This is made up of -

  -  2 cabinets
  -  computer
  -  printer

This is working quite well, so far.
The two cabinets are enough at the moment
to house all my -
  -  files
  -  stationery supplies
  -  equipment (pens, rulers etc)
  -  business documentation
  -  accounting journals
  -  business and creative in-boxes
  -  materials and equipment for current projects
  -  information (from previous educational courses
       and the internet)

Here is a better look at the computer
and printer set-up.


The main things are that -
  - everything is in the one area
  - items can be physically placed
      in an order of importance
  -  items can be moved in and out
       easily


What more can be said ?  :)



(c) Katherine Stuart 2014

JIAS music therapy

JIAS music therapy is the -

    Johansen Individualised Auditory Perception program

This is a music therapy program that I've been doing over the last 2 years,
as I have Dyslexia and Autism Spectrum Disorder (without accompanying
intellectual and language impairment - Level 1).

I have always had problems hearing certain
sounds.

When I went to the Kenny Rogers concert
here in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
a while back, I was in the taxi, having arrived
back at the place where I was staying for the
night. It was dark, and my brain couldn't
compute how to open the door. I was getting
a bit worried that I wasn't going to be able to
get out of the taxi !
I mentioned this to one of my Dyslexia
psychologists. So my hearing was tested and it was
found that I couldn't hear some sounds, especially
in the high range. It also became apparent that I
wasn't able to hear what people were saying
correctly. There were gaps in the conversation. So,
I couldn't understand what they were saying, and
hence, couldn't respond with an intelligent answer.
This explained a lot !

This system has involved,
- being tested to find out what sounds that I couldn't hear
- the psychologist (or person trained in delivering this system)
  sent this information to those who produce the special music CD
  which is tailored to a person's specific needs
- the special music CD was produced and was sent to me (at cost)
- I have to listen to each track,
   one a night, as specified on the sheet provided (pictured)
   for a number of weeks.

As I mentioned, I've been doing this for 2 years now, and am on the 4th CD,
as a person has to be re-assessed every so many months, to make changes in the CD
if there are improvements. But, now this is the last one and the therapy is tailing off
over the next 4 1/2 months.

One striking change which occured in my hearing was this -
The 3rd CD had a special sound wave incorporated into the music tracks.
Previously, the sound that my brain was hearing was "flat", or you could say,
two dimensional. But, as I listened to the 4th CD, it triggered some things to work
in my brain that weren't previously, namely in the back part of my head and my temples,
after which the sound that my brain was hearing was 3 dimensional, or you could say,
stereo, but much better !! I can now have a wonderful sound experience when I listen to a
music CD, if it is produced properly, that is !!

So, thankyou to the JIAS system and inventor, and to my psychologists, Maria De Ionno and Anthony Franklin of "Dyslexia and Reading Solutions" (South Australia - Australia) for making this and other things possible.


(c) Katherine Stuart 2014