Week 2 - Chunking Flashcards
What is a chunk?
Chunks are pieces of information, neuroscientifically speaking, that are bound together through use and often through meaning. They’re a single easy to access item that you can fit like a ribbon into the slot on your working memory.
What is the best way to build chunks?
Chunks are best built with focused, undivided attention, understanding of the basic idea, and practice to help deepen your patterns and to help you gain big picture context.
What are some ways you can help the chunking process while learning?
Simple recall, trying to remember the key points without looking at the page, is one of the best ways to help the chunking process along.
Also try recalling material in places that are different from where you originally learned the material, so it becomes more deeply ingrained and accessible, regardless of what room you’re in.
What is Einstellung?
Einstellung is when your initial thought, an idea you’ve already had in mind, or a neural pattern you’ve already developed well and strengthened, prevents a better idea or solution from being found. Or keeps you from being flexible enough to accept new, better, or more appropriate solutions.
What can you do to prevent Illusion of competence?
Learn to recognize when you’re fooling yourself about whether you’re actually learning the material. Frequently use mini-tests (ie. recall) to to see whether you’re actually learning the material.
Why is it good to make mistakes when learning?
Mistakes allow you to catch illusions of
competence.
Why should you avoid depending too much on highlighting?
Depending too much on highlighting can fool you into thinking that the material is going into your brain when it actually isn’t.
Why should you avoid practicing what you find easy?
Practicing only the easy stuff is not the most efficient way to use your mental energy in mastering the subject, and can bring the illusion that you’ve mastered the material when you have not.
