do any of you have different ways of remembering things?

[Dillon]

So I do not like to speak publicly in front of a group of people. For example next week for my chemistry class I have go in front of a few judges a present a poster project over food and health supplements (some new thing the University did for a year now which I have no idea why). I did an my project over the enzyme CQ-10 howbwe produce it in our bodies to fight off diseases and improves our immune system but that substance comes in tablet or capsule form since we actually don’t produce enough of it in our bodies (I’m getting too technical here).
Anyway I have to present for at least 10 minutes by myself. I know the subject well but when I try explain something the wording doesn’t come out right how it is in my mind and that’s what I’m afraid of might happen afraid I may not remember what I was going to say. Sometimes I loose train of though for a moment and that thought is just gone. Taking a pause for a moment helps me out recollecting my thoughts but at the same time I feel like it’s time consuming when talking to someone.
I haven’t found something to really help me out until recently. I’ve decided to make some notes or key points on flash cards of what I might say next week so it and go over it each day so it can be implanted in my brain and I would know right away what I’m exactly going to say.

This also goes along with studying too like after lecture or class I go over the material we have covered on that day and keep going over it until next class starting new material. That same night I go back to the old information and studying up on the new material and I repeat that process over and over until it’s time the exam. I usually forget what my professor would say a couple times in class but if I look back over my notes over and over I won’t forget what I had written down of what was said.

Examples like these actually make me less nervous about something before I actually go and do it. Doing that I’m like hey I totally remember this by heart now. what are some things y’all do if you feel like you can’t remember something and makes you nervous when you can’t remember what something was or you were going to say?

 

[Fino]

I always just had to read it word for word from a paper I had written in advance, which would get me marked down. And even then, I had to be on lots of drugs. And the amount of times I've imagined saying something and then failed to say what I meant to say has led me to just give up trying to plan on what I'll say. Now it's all whatever comes out first!

I did a small amount of research on CQ-10 while I was reading about the medication I take! Some people seem to believe that long-term use of Adderall causes neurotoxicity and that one of the ways to mitigate the damage is the use of supplemental CQ-10. Did you learn about anything relevant to that in your research? I've also read that long-term use of a therapeutic dose can't possibly cause neurotoxicity, in which case would the unnecessary use of daily CQ-10 have negative effects?

Sorry, I wasn't very helpful and now I'm asking you questions... feel free to ignore me!

 

[TheFreeCat]

I would love to read about your research on CoQ10

 

[Dillon]

I always just had to read it word for word from a paper I had written in advance, which would get me marked down. And even then, I had to be on lots of drugs. And the amount of times I've imagined saying something and then failed to say what I meant to say has led me to just give up trying to plan on what I'll say. Now it's all whatever comes out first!

I did a small amount of research on CQ-10 while I was reading about the medication I take! Some people seem to believe that long-term use of Adderall causes neurotoxicity and that one of the ways to mitigate the damage is the use of supplemental CQ-10. Did you learn about anything relevant to that in your research? I've also read that long-term use of a therapeutic dose can't possibly cause neurotoxicity, in which case would the unnecessary use of daily CQ-10 have negative effects?

Sorry, I wasn't very helpful and now I'm asking you questions... feel free to ignore me!

Yes I believe I looked into the long term affects of using adderall which was pretty interesting.
And nah you’re fine ask all the question you want !

 

[Dillon]

I would love to read about your research on CoQ10

Well I will be happy to show you! The information however is based on a scientific article we had to read off for our project.

 

[SusanLR]

I love to read the latest research on medicines and the body chemistry also.
Being a retired pharmacist, I never lost my interest in the medical field.
I still find articles on research, usually on-line and spend hours of study.
I would also love to read about your research on CoQ10 or any other topics on medicine.

 

[Progster]

I would make a kind of visual flow chart with prompts to help you remember what you want to say, and in which order.

 

[Monachopia]

When I was studying law there was so much to remember and knowing that I'm a visual learner I'd make intricate A3 charts with all the information on them, they'd have to make sense flow-wise and be interesting to look at, so different colours/fonts/arrows and the like. When I'd recall the information I'd easily be able to visualise the paper and 'read it off'. For presentations, well, it was knowing the speech 100% and having a logical flow to it with prompts, so that the words become "pictures" that make sense one after the other.

Good luck with your presentation and exams!!

 

[Graphin]

To do it properly, I need a few seconds to switch between talking and thinking about what to say, so all presentations go badly, and I will have lots of them

 

[Dahlia]

I don’t know if this will help, but my daughter is in a public speaking class and the way they were taught to do speeches on a something factual is to have the speech be structured like a 5 paragraph essay.

Intro (what I am going to tell you about)
Point A
point B
Point C
Conclusion (what I told you about)

There are much better descriptions out there, but that is the basic idea. If you know the subject well, index cards with notes may help you stay on track and not get lost while talking.

 

[Nervous Rex]

Jotting down key points is a very good start. I often do that before I go into meetings or go to discuss more than one topic or issue with someone. It helps me present things in a more reasonable, logical manner.

If I'm allowed to read from a script, I will write everything down and read it verbatim. I print it with a fairly large font so I can easily track my progress with my finger while I look up at the audience as often as possible.

If I'm not allowed to read from a script, I just memorize the whole thing. In my small high school, our principal took it upon himself to sign me up for some local speech contests and then coach me through them. He helped me write and rewrite a speech, then sent me home over the weekend to read it 25 times. By 10 times, I knew the speech pretty well. By 15, I was sick of it. By 20, I was doing other things to keep myself entertained while reciting the speech. By 25, I had it down flawlessly. When I delivered the speech, I was able to just rattle it off without thinking, which made me able to focus on gestures, voice inflection, pausing at the right times, and trying to connect with the audience. And I won a state speech contest and a small scholarship! I benefitted a lot from that experience. Now, when I have to present anything without something to read from, I script it, and read it 25 times. Then I present it like I know what I'm doing.

I've done this with presentations at work, boy scout activities, pioneer chautauqua, church plays, etc. (I don't jump up and volunteer for these things. I think word has gotten out that Rex likes to memorize things.) I always read it 25 times.

A few other tips:
I do get nervous in front of large crowds (my wife, watching from behind the podium once said that my legs were shaking so bad, she thought I was going to fall down - no one in front of the podium saw that, though). Before I speak, I pick out the faces of a few friends in the audience. When I get too nervous, I look directly at them.

No one knows the presentation you wanted to give. They only see the one you actually gave. Only you can compare the two. If you forget a part or flub something, the audience will never know.

 

[Judge]

Right now I keep it focused to just a few things. Probably sounds bizarre to most anyone though. Just things I chose not to forget for the sake of not forgetting. One of them goes back to 1977 when me and my college roommate couldn't recall a particular show and actor. "The Sixth Sense", starring Gary Collins.

And two words that mean the same thing- Coriander and Cilantro.

I remember them only to test my memory and little else. And when I do forget them, I remain like "a dog with a bone" until I recall them.

 

[Dillon]

I don’t know if this will help, but my daughter is in a public speaking class and the way they were taught to do speeches on a something factual is to have the speech be structured like a 5 paragraph essay.

Intro (what I am going to tell you about)
Point A
point B
Point C
Conclusion (what I told you about)

There are much better descriptions out there, but that is the basic idea. If you know the subject well, index cards with notes may help you stay on track and not get lost while talking.

I may try that before I start my presentation and see how that works for me!