Week 2: Chunks

Question 1

What is a chunk?

Answer 1

Mental connection or leap that unite scattered bits of info into a meaning

Question 2

Benefits of chunking

Answer 2

1. Compress info
2. Can be expanded on
3. Multiple chunks can used to make connections

Question 3

Working Memory

Answer 3

Typically 4 slots in frontal cortex that grabs memory from our stored memory to make connections

Question 4

What happens when our brains become stressed?

Answer 4

Our brains lose the ability to make connections

Question 5

How do chunks work?

Answer 5

Smaller chunks can from bigger chunks

Question 6

What are the best kind of chunks?

Answer 6

Ones that become subconscious

Question 7

What is the first step to building a chunk?

Answer 7

Giving focused undivided attention on the info you want to chunk

Question 8

What is the second step to building a chunk?

Answer 8

Understanding the basic idea

Question 9

What is the third step to building a chunk?

Answer 9

Gaining context

Question 10

What are the two types of learning?

Answer 10

Bottom up Chunking
“Practice and repetition”

Top Down
“Seeing the bigger picture”

Question 11

What is recall?

Answer 11

Technique to read the material and then try to remember from memory

Question 12

Describe how Recalling work in relation to working memory

Answer 12

• Working memory typically 4 slots.
• When learning and recalling something new, all 4 slots are in use to figure it out.
• Once a chunk is established, our working memory only needs 1 slot.

Example is like a chunk become URL where when our working memory needs to find info, it just puts in the URL and info pops up.

Question 13

What is the Illusion of Competence?

Answer 13

When we fool ourselves to thinking we learned the material

Question 14

How do we fall into the Illusion of Competence?

Answer 14

When we use Google or Open book rather than recalling from memory

Question 15

Learning in different environments can…?

Answer 15

Feeling of uncomfortableness

Allow us to access info anywhere

Question 16

What are neuromodulators?

Answer 16

Chemicals in the brain that influences that affect how neurons respond to each other

Question 17

What the three neuromodulators we hear about?

Answer 17

Acetylcholine
Dopanine
Serotonin

Question 18

What is Acetylcholine?

Answer 18

Responsible for activating circuits in the brain leading to long term memory

Question 19

What is Dopamine?

Answer 19

Responsible for that feel good feeling

Predicts future rewards and motivates us

Question 20

What is Serotonin?

Answer 20

Regulates emotions and body functions

Question 21

Emotion in learning

Answer 21

Emotions and cognitive functions are intertwined and affect our ability to learn

Question 22

What is the Library of Chunks

Answer 22

Where we store and access chunks we have established

Question 23

What is transfer?

Answer 23

Using chunked concepts and applying to other fields

Question 24

What are the two ways we use chunks to solves a problem?

Answer 24

1. Sequential Step by Step
2. Intuition

Question 25

What thinking mode does the process “Sequential Step by Step” use?

Answer 25

Focused

Question 26

What thinking mode does the process “Intution” use?

Answer 26

Diffused

Question 27

What is the Law of Serendipity?

Answer 27

Lady luck favors those who try

Question 28

What is overlearning?

Answer 28

Continuing to study or practice after mastering the material.

Question 29

Benefits of Overlearning?

Answer 29

Creating Automaticity

Question 30

Cons of Overlearning

Answer 30

1. Can be a waste of valuable learning time
2. Doesn’t help solidify long term memory connections
3. Creates the illusion of Competence

Question 31

What material should you focus on to become a great student?

Answer 31

Focusing on harder material

Question 32

What is the concept of Einstellung?

Answer 32

A strongly developed chunk, thought, or idea that prevents a better idea or solution from being found.

Question 33

What is interleaving?

Answer 33

Bouncing back between different problems or situations that require different approaches

Question 34

Benefits of interleaving

Answer 34

Creates connections between different concepts

Enhances creativity