Try this: what is on the back of a coin you use often? Most people have seen it thousands of times and still can't draw it. They never paid attention to it, so it was never encoded.
Key idea
Attention is the doorway to memory. To remember something, give it your full attention for a short time.
- Put away screens while you study.
- Study in short, focused blocks instead of long, drifting ones.
- Ask yourself a question before you read, so you are looking for the answer.
Worked example: Worked example
Which study setup gives the best chance to encode a list of spelling words?
- A: practicing while a video plays.
- B: ten focused minutes at a quiet table, saying and writing each word.
- Only B gives the words full attention.
Answer: B, ten focused minutes with nothing competing for attention.
Common mistake
Thinking you can do two thinking jobs at once. You switch back and forth, and each switch costs attention.