The Story Method is the fifth episode in a miniseries on medical mnemonics. In this episode, Chase DiMarco talks about the journey method¾its basic structure and the different applications of the technique. The story method ties in all the previously learned mnemonics into a memorable sequence.
- [02:28] The Journey Method
- [05:24] Using the Story Method for Medical Topics
- [08:43] Example of the Journey Method
- [12:08] Homework Exercise
The Story Method
The journey or the story method is a memory technique used for remembering multiple items in a precise arrangement. To start, create a basic story outline about your chosen topic. The next step is to insert or assign visual markers for the main concepts. Finally, organize the story’s plot in a way that’s memorable to you. The journey method connects all your visual mnemonics together in a series of events.
In a previous episode with memory champ Nelson Dellis, he prefers to use the story method to recall ordered lists such as the sequence of US presidents. Medical students can apply this to memorizing disease and wound healing processes, stages of labor and delivery, diagnostic test ordering, and other charts or graphs. The journey method makes it easier to recall relationships and sequences between associations. By creating elaborate stories, we chunk information together which helps attribute detailed characteristics to specific topics.
Homework
- Create at least 1 story with visual mnemonics using a topic from your current studies. Review it once afterwards.
For more study tips, grab a copy of Read This Before Medical School. Don’t forget to leave a rating! Share your experiences, tips, and suggestions to [email protected]. Or you can directly reach out to Chase on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram. Join the Medical Mnemonist Master Mind Facebook group and find our Blog posts, Podcasts, and other Resources at FreeMedEd.org!
