Using the science-based hacks of memory champions to boost your teaching and learning

241 facts and figures learned in just 5 minutes? It's possible!!!
Did you know that the impressive memory skills of the champions at the memory championships are not based on innate abilities but on techniques that can be learned? In fact, memory research has shown that mnemonic techniques can enhance human memory capacity by a factor of greater than then (Ericsson, 2003).

In this workshop, Dr. Felicitas Kluger will provide fascinating insights into the neuroscience behind these memory hacks and demonstrate how they can be used to teach and learn more effectively.

In this workshop you will...

... gain fascinating insights into the brains of memory champions and learn why they are *not* special
... experience the techniques of memory champions first hand with your own body
... learn how you can use insights from modern neurocognitive memory research to become a better learner and university teacher

Literacy: Caplan, J. B., Legge, E. L., Cheng, B., & Madan, C. R. (2019). Effectiveness of the method of loci is only minimally related to factors that should influence imagined navigation. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 72(10), 2541-2553. Dresler, M., Shirer, W. R., Konrad, B. N., Müller, N. C., Wagner, I. C., Fernández, G., ... & Greicius, M. D. (2017). Mnemonic training reshapes brain networks to support superior memory. Neuron, 93(5), 1227-1235. Ericsson, K. A. (2003). Exceptional memorizers: Made, not born. Trends in cognitive sciences, 7(6), 233-235. Foer, J. (2012). Moonwalking with Einstein: The art and science of remembering everything. Penguin. Kluger, F. E., Oladimeji, D. M., Tan, Y., Brown, N. R., & Caplan, J. B. (2022). Mnemonic scaffolds vary in effectiveness for serial recall. Memory, 30(7), 869-894. Konrad, B. N. (2018). Superhirn-Gedächtnistraining mit einem Weltmeister: Über faszinierende Leistungen des menschlichen Gehirns. BoD–Books on Demand. Legge, E. L., Madan, C. R., Ng, E. T., & Caplan, J. B. (2012). Building a memory palace in minutes: Equivalent memory performance using virtual versus conventional environments with the Method of Loci. Acta psychologica, 141(3), 380-390. Thomas, J. J., Ayuno, K. C., Kluger, F. E., & Caplan, J. B. (2023). The relationship between interactive-imagery instructions and association memory. Memory & Cognition, 51(2), 371-390. Wagner, I. C., Konrad, B. N., Schuster, P., Weisig, S., Repantis, D., Ohla, K., ... & Dresler, M. (2021). Durable memories and efficient neural coding through mnemonic training using the method of loci. Science advances, 7(10), eabc7606.

Method: Participants are asked to actively participate through polls and life-questions, where they are invited to speak up and ask their questions. In addition to an interactive discussion phase, there is also an interactive hands-on experience phase where participants are invited to stand up and move around, using their own bodies as a mnemonic scaffold.