FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

The phrase "My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas" is an example of which educational tool?

1. Concept map

2. Template

3. Mnemonic device

4. Graphic organizer

The correct answer is: Mnemonic device

The phrase "My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas" is an example of a mnemonic device, which is a learning technique designed to aid in memory retention and recall. This particular phrase is a mnemonic for remembering the order of the planets in our solar system, where each word corresponds to a planet: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and the now-dwarf planet Pluto. Mnemonic devices are particularly effective because they create a mental shortcut that makes information easier to remember. By associating complex information with simple, memorable phrases, students can enhance their recall abilities during tests or while engaging in discussions about the topic. This method is especially beneficial for memorizing sequences or lists, helping students organize and retrieve information in a more manageable way. In contrast, the other options serve different educational purposes. Concept maps help organize and visually represent relationships between different concepts. Templates provide a structured format for completing tasks or assignments. Graphic organizers assist in visualizing information, often to enhance understanding of complex subjects. However, none of these specifically focus on memory retention in the same way that a mnemonic device does.