What You All Think About the Limits of Memory?

[LevelUP]

This isn't meant to be a deep discussion about the psychology of memory limitations. However, there are some humans living that can recall every single day of their lives. The real Rainman can memorize 98% of what he reads. There are memory masters who can train themselves to memorize a deck of cards in under 2 minutes.

It seems to me that as a hobby, it's hard to do multiple things at once, such as learning musical instruments or languages.

So in practical terms, what you do all think about the limits of memory? What about learning things as a career?

[ReyMysterioso]

Not to be negative about education because I do believe it's important, I believe it has value and the general education requirements of every degree do provide a base of experiences and exposure to different subjects...But I feel the way education and pedagogy currently functions runs up against the limitations of memory.
Comedian Don Novello has a bit as Fr. Guido Sarducci about the "Five Minute University." In which he proposes he wants to teach you in five minutes, the same amount of knowledge the average college graduate can remember five years after graduation.

My stepkid took one of the same ASU universal learner classes I did maybe two semesters after I took it. So I was sitting in, checking on her and watching her go through the course multiple times. And I was surprised how much I'd forgotten from it. And it was even a subject I found really interesting and a class I really enjoyed. The ones I didn't enjoy like Human Origins ....oof. I remember absolutely nothing at all except that there are a lot of hominid fossils in the Congo region.

But I'm not sure that's 100% on-topic with what you're talking about, but I've thought a lot about the limits of memory. Back to your topic.... When you say learning things as a career - do you mean the process of getting into your work and learning on-the-job? Or do you mean having a career in which your job is to learn things?

[LevelUP]

If we are talking about computer technology, for example, there is an almost infinite amount of things you can learn.

• Lots of programming languages to choose from
  
• Lots of frameworks to choose from
  
• Gaming development
  
• Mobile app development
  
• Cloud software development (SAS)
  
• Front-end/Back-end or go Full Stack Development
  
• AI
  
• Hardware programming
  
• IT with all kinds of certs you can do from cybersecurity to networking, etc. 
  

So at some point, you would have to pick and choose what you want to learn to land a job.

I have seen some job listings that ask you to be an expert at designing things and also be an expert at a bunch of technical skills at the same time.

Basically, it would be hard to be a history teacher, then moonlight as a cybersecurity expert, then at the same time, be in charge of supply chain management at a major company.

So the questions are, what are the limits you can learn to get the job you want? What are the limits to learning new things while on the job?

[sanantone]

I have a pretty good memory, but I hit my memorization limits this month. I was attempting to pass all eight Microsoft fundamentals certification exams before the end of this month. There was no way I was going to remember all of that terminology within such a short period of time. I had to rely upon my reasoning and test-taking skills. In other words, I used educated guesses to pass these exams.

Some people can memorize facts, but they can't apply them. Some people need to rely upon memorization for every scenario because they lack problem-solving skills, but there's not always a previously known solution for every situation. I was getting worried about the Data Fundamentals exam because so many people on Reddit had to take it multiple times, and they spent days and weeks studying. I only gave myself a few hours to study. Their problem was that they were trying to memorize all of the data terminology and functions of applications in Microsoft 365 and Azure. When they were asked scenario-based questions that required them to recommend a solution, they were stuck.

[LevelUP]

I have a pretty good memory, but I hit my memorization limits this month. I was attempting to pass all eight Microsoft fundamentals certification exams before the end of this month. There was no way I was going to remember all of that terminology within such a short period of time. I had to rely upon my reasoning and test-taking skills. In other words, I used educated guesses to pass these exams.

Some people can memorize facts, but they can't apply them. Some people need to rely upon memorization for every scenario because they lack problem-solving skills, but there's not always a previously known solution for every situation. I was getting worried about the Data Fundamentals exam because so many people on Reddit had to take it multiple times, and they spent days and weeks studying. I only gave myself a few hours to study. Their problem was that they were trying to memorize all of the data terminology and functions of applications in Microsoft 365 and Azure. When they were asked scenario-based questions that required them to recommend a solution, they were stuck.

In terms of memorizing for tests, some have heard of Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve. 

https://www.growthengineering.co.uk/what...ing-curve/

To fight the forgetting curve, one can use various mnemonics techniques.

I started Calculus in April 2022 but failed the first exam. I stopped and didn't start again till December of 2022. But by then, I had forgotten everything I learned and had to start from scratch.

For most classes I took, I started and finished them within 2 weeks to avoid having to relearn a bunch of stuff by the time I took the final.

[sanantone]

Another way to learn is to do things. If you have more time, there are training courses that go through the steps of performing tasks. It's best to have the equipment and/or software to follow along. That way, you'll be recalling information from experience instead of rote memorization.

[bluebooger]

I think that ...
wait what was the question ?

[origamishuttle]

When I take a test, I think of my task as "loading up the ark" to try to cram as much information as quickly as possible before I forget. I go through a process of understanding the concepts, distilling information into notes, then memorizing my notes, cross-referencing with other peoples' notes, taking practice exams, and then taking the final as quickly as possible. Depending on the complexity and amount of information, I may skip one or more of the steps. For example, with Sophia or Study.com courses, I'll block off 4-5 hours of time to complete the entire course and immediately take the final so that all the information is still fresh, whereas with a more complex IT cert, I'll definitely complete all the steps, maybe over the course of a week.

[Alpha]

William Gibson wrote one of the early cyberpunk novels Johnny Mnemonic, about a man who uses his memory as his career.  They turned the book into a mediocre movie with Keannu Reeves.  The book is better than the movie.
Johnny Mnemonic by William Gibson (goodreads.com)