Use of Mnemonics in Training Materials. A Guide for Technical Writers.

Abstract : This report is a guide for incorporating different mnemonic techniques into the training curriculum. It is intended mainly for those responsible for the production of written training materials; classroom instructors should also find it useful. The Interservice Procedures for Instructional Systems Development call for the use of mnemonics in curriculum development. This report provides guidelines for choosing when to use mnemonics, which types of mnemonics to use, and how to develop each type of mnemonic. It contains a description of nine techniques including several first letter mnemonics, rhymes as mnemonics, patterns and graphics as mnemonics and such special techniques as stories and the peg word method. It is filled with examples pertinent to Navy training including three complete sets of mnemonics for the teaching of: (1) Morse Code, (2) Signal Flags, and (3) Orders to the Sentries. (Author)