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Keyword strategy: a three-stage mnemonic for learning science concepts

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q3 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description

The keyword strategy is a mnemonic strategy first developed by Atkinson (1975) that consists of "an acoustic bond established between words and the steps of supporting this bond with visuals". Levin (1988) simplified it into three stages: saving (selecting a pronunciation-similar keyword), associating (linking the target word to the keyword via verbal repetition and an image), and retrieval (recalling the keyword and image to derive the target word's meaning). The article applies this strategy to teach ten Turkish science concepts to students with SLD.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

  • Keywords must be acoustically similar to the target concept words in the learners' language
  • Visuals representing the keyword-concept association must be prepared

Constraints

  • The article examines the strategy only for middle school students with SLD learning science concepts in Türkiye

Target Learners

  • middle school students with specific learning disabilities

Learning Goals

  • science concept acquisition and retention

Claims

Examples

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Key Sources

  • Aracı, N., Melekoğlu, M. A., & Çetin, M. E. (2023). Impact of a Mnemonic Strategy on Learning Science Concepts for Middle School Students With Specific Learning Disabilities. Learning Disabilities: A Contemporary Journal, 21(1), 69-85.
Page metadata
Field Value
type design
id keyword-strategy-three-stage-mnemonic
title Keyword strategy: a three-stage mnemonic for learning science concepts
description The keyword strategy is a mnemonic strategy first developed by Atkinson (1975) that consists of "an acoustic bond established between words and the steps of supporting this bond with visuals".
status review
generated by process:settle-candidates on 2026-11-03
trust unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources 1 — aracı-2023

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