I recently read about the memory palace as a memory cue in the book “Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning” (Brown et al., 2014). A memory palace is a “more complex type of mnemonic device that is useful for organizing and holding larger volumes of material in memory” (p. 185). In this type of mnemonic work, the learner associates mental images with a series of physical locations to help cue memories. In contrast with memory work, metacognitive mnemonic work requires the learner to increase their self-discipline. This relates to the lecture material because we learned that it is vital that learners move from empirical and experiential understanding to pattern recognition and theory making.

In my current online psychology course, I use Sherlock Holmes to demonstrate the concept of deductive thinking. Now that I have read about the memory palace and situated it in the context of metacognition through this course, I think I will add another Sherlock Holmes clip to illustrate the memory palace. Because humans remember pictures more easily than words, Holmes uses this memory technique to derive vivid and connective links to memory through images to solve the iconic case of the Hounds of Baskerville. Ideally, I would love to create an assignment that requires students to build a memory palace and then apply it to their course midterm! In this way, my students could then evaluate the efficacy of their own mental palace (based on my recursive feedback), which would be a great practice in metacognition. They could even take pictures of their memory palaces to upload and co-create a communal blog to integrate digital technology into the assessment.

One distinguishing factor between mnemonic work and memory work is that “the memory palace serves not as a learning tool but as a method to organize what’s already been learned so as to be readily retrievable at essay time” (Brown et al., 2014, p. 194). In an age of incessant distractions, it is becoming more valuable to remember that we can increase our abilities. With focus, self-discipline, and motivation, we can cultivate our sense of personal empowerment and metacognitive growth mindset.

Brown, P., Roediger, H., McDaniel, M. (2014). Make it stick: The science of successful learning. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.