Chunking Flashcards
What is a Chunk?
Chunks are several pieces of information that are held together by a common concept or theme and can be recalled together. They can be built onto to allow larger recall. Each chunk fills one of the four slots in the working memory.
How to form a chunk? Examples?
Watch or listen to someone else performing the skill you want to have; break down the information you want to learn into little chunks; try practicing the mini chunks over and over again - then put together into bigger and bigger chunks over time (eg. if it’s a song you want to play, try playing each component individually; if it’s a movement, then try each stage of the movement over and over; if it’s abstract, like math - practice each of the little components and then put them together into a formula.
The Steps in Chunking?
- Focus on only the chunk (otherwise other slots in working memory are being used) - bottom up
- Try to grasp the basic idea as a whole (may take focused and diffused thinking - test self, try to do) - top down
- Get context - not just how to do, but when to use.v - this makes the knowledge accessible from many different paths - merge top down and bottom up
Recall
Right after reading something, look away and try to remember it. Mental recall of the key ideas from within.
Why is it important to focus when first learning something?
Uses the whole working memory - if any other part is engaged then learning will be less effective - clear your mind first
Transfer
When knowledge contained in a chunk in one field can be applied to another field. Eg. Applying economics to psychology.
How does diffuse thinking relate to chunking?
When thinking in a diffuse manner, the brain may access chunks in different fields, creating knowledge transfer between those chunks, and new ideas.
What’s the benefit of a chunked library?
Have many different classes and types if cocncepts from different areas and they will merge together in ways that simplify problem solving when encountering a novel problem.
What are two types of problem solving? Differences?
Sequential- uses the focused mode.
Holistic- uses diffuse thinking and is most often needed to solve very complicated problems because it transcends the default mode network and creates novel combinations.
Overlearning
When someone repeats studying the same information when they have already saturated their mind for the day (can’t learn anymore). Like overworking muscles in the gym. Diminishing returns and may be harmful.
Over learning can still be valuable to build automaticity.
Deliberate practice
Intentionally studying at the threshold of ones knowledge (the hard stuff), to expand overall knowledge in an area.
Einstellung
When commitment to an initial simple idea prevents one from understanding a more mature but better suited idea
Interleaving
Once one has the basic idea of a new concept, incorporating it into different scenarios with existing ideas to engage different parts of the brain, or even incorporating it into different subjects to create new ideas. Helps go from what to when and why, and avoids einstellung.
What is the most common illusion of competence in learning?
Glancing at a solution, understanding it, and thinking that means you know how to solve the problem. - just bc you know how the solution works doesn’t mean you know how to get there Eg. just bc you know where a place is on a map doesn’t mean you know how to get there.
How to highlight effectively?
Very minimal. Look for main ideas first. One sentence per paragraph or less (one sentence per page even). Notes in the margin are better - sue them to connect the idea to thing you already know.
