mnemonics for geotechnical engineering

(Pronounced "ne-mon'-ics")

The art of assisting the memory,

by using a system of artificial aids

USE OF MNEMONICS FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING

A.S.Nene & V.S.Landge

Artificial aids

• Rhymes, • Rules,• Phrases• Diagrams, • Acronyms • Other devices

From childhood to old ageone uses this technique knowingly or unknowingly.

Government also uses this technique

Abstract concepts, principles and ideas.

Hard for students to comprehend.

Remove a misconception that

Geotechnical engineering subjects

are descriptive and less scoring

Teaching-learning is a two way processUnless every student learns,the process is incomplete.

One picture is worth thousand wordsa Chinese proverb.

MAIN LEARNING STYLES

Visual

Auditory

Kinesthetic

Visual Learners

Visual learners relate most effectively to

written information, notes, diagrams and pictures.

Visual learners make up around 65% of the population.

You will find such learners sitting on first

5 to 6 benches

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners relate most effectively

to the spoken word.

Auditory learners make up about

30% of the population.

You will find such learners sitting on Middle three benches

Kinesthetic Learners learn effectivelythrough touch and movement and space, and learn skills by imitation and practiceKinesthetic learners make up around 5% of the population.

You will find such learners sitting on

Last benches

Kinesthetic Learners

Senses of Perception

Use all the senses to code information ordress up an image.Ask the students to use all senses of perceptions to learn new things,

Plasticity of fine grained soils

Knead and roll a wet soil massUse clay and fly-ash samples

Innovative Questions

Use humor, Funny or peculiar things

Name the curve which is plotted as a straight line!

Flow curve

Enigmatic questions

What is common / uncommon between Foot & Footing?

Both transfer loads to earth but one is above and other is below the ground

Enigmatic questions are very difficult to forget!

Rude RhymesRude rhymes are very difficult to forget.

A for Atterberg, B for Boussinesq, C for Coulomb and D for Darcy

Models Bringing three dimensions & movement to an imagemakes it more vivid.

Show models in the class room itself.

Arrange model competitions with subjects such as• Plate/pile load test, • Dewatering techniques, • Construction with Geosynthetics etc.

Positive, Pleasant Images.The brain often blocks out unpleasant ones.Vivid, colorful images are easier to remember than drab ones.Use well drawn colored charts.. Use cartoons

Exaggeration

Exaggerate the size of important parts of the image

Use Appropriate Symbols

Three Dimensions and Movement

Three dimensions and movement

to an image makes it more vivid.

Mnemonics of Ancient India

Vedic literature (Veda, Puranas & Upnishadas) could be preserved as it is in poetic form with strict grammatical rules.

Things were named to indicate its quality

Copper Sulphate - Mayurgriva- Green as neck of a peacock

Each of Digits 0 to 9 has hundreds of alternate names 1- Sun, Moon, 2 Hands, eyes etc

CONCLUSION

Mnemonics is a very useful toolfor educators and students

Dr.A.S.Nene M4 Laxmi Nagar, Nagpur (India) 440022 Email: nene_ashok@yahoo.com

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