I’m currently taking a PhD course from Dr. Rhondda Robinson Thomas, author of the book Call My Name, Clemson: Documenting the Black Experience in an American University Community. Aside from being an author, she’s an inspirational professor and social justice researcher. And in March of 2019 she delivered a powerful speech at a TEDx conference. In her book, she talks about how she planned to memorize the message she would share during her TEDx talk.
“When I talked with one of the event organizers, I confessed to being quite nervous, which he assured me was normal. The antidote for fear—memorize my talk; practice it daily. I devised a plan to commit my talk to memory in chunks under many different conditions, including while walking on the treadmill as others lifted weights and talked loudly nearby; while staying in an Airbnb in Washington, DC, which was located near a hospital where sirens interrupted my rehearsals; and while completing aquatic exercises at 5:30 a.m. in the YMCA Anderson, South Carolina, pool. My intense practicing paid off.”
Thomas’s example of her practice sessions highlight two of the best scientifically proven tips for committing a presentation to memory: active recall and spaced memorization.
Active Recall
One of my favorite ways to memorize a presentation has been to record it and listen to it while driving. However, research now shows that might not be the best strategy. That’s because we are learning that recall is better than repetition. In other words, trying to actively remember something is better than simply listening to it or reading it over and over.
A research team comprised of 2 cognitive scientists and 1 storyteller recount their findings in Psychology Today saying, “Recalling what you have learned makes the learning stronger and more easily recalled again later.” So when it comes time to memorize your presentation and prepare for the big day, don’t simply read it over and over. Make your brain do the heavy lifting of active recall.
Spaced Memorization
The second strategy to help you memorize your presentation involves spacing out your practice sessions. This means you can’t start 1 or 2 days prior to your presentation. You need to give yourself more time if you really want to learn it.
In 2006, William R. Balch of The University of Pennsylvania State found that having students engaged in spaced learning enabled them to remember over 13% more than when they studied using the more traditional cramming session.
Another reason spaced memorization might work better is that it may naturally occur in different places. For example, Thomas memorized her TEDx talk not just at different times, but in different places: on the treadmill, in an AirBnB, and in the pool. These different settings strengthened her ability to recall her presentation no matter the time of day or setting.
If you’ve been trying to memorize your presentation by reading it over and over in your office the day before you speak, you aren’t doing yourself any favors. Try using active recall and spaced memorization the next time around. See how your preparation process can change for the better.
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