Week 2 - Chunking

Question 1

What is a chunk?

Answer 1

• A chunk are bits of information which are united together through meaning or use.
• A network of neurons that are used to firing together so you can think a thought or perform an action smoothly and effectively.

Question 2

How can you form a chunk?

Answer 2

1. Overview: „picture walk“ before starting to learn: look images, headlines, questions, … from the material
2. Focus: attention on information you want to chunk (pomodoro) (how and what)
3. Understand: the basic ideas first, using the focus and diffuse mode and recall
4. Practice: Gain context to see how and why to use the chunk (“when”)

Question 3

How can you memorize learning material?

Answer 3

Using a simple process called “recall”:

• Read the material.
• Then look away from the material.
• See what you can recall from it without looking at the material.

Question 4

How does recall work?

Answer 4

• The retrieval process enhances learning and helps from chunks.
• Highlighting and synthesizing comments on margins of a page only after recall.

Question 5

What illusions of competence are there?

Answer 5

• Just reading or re-reading the material without using recall
• Drawing concept maps is less effective than recall
• Looking at the solution and just understanding without working it through
• Underlining and highlighting without recalling before

Question 6

What study methods help avoid illusions of competence?

Answer 6

• Recall, esp. outside original learning context
• Deliberate practice (tackling the hard stuff)
• Mini-testing yourself
• Making mistakes early and correcting them (fail early, fail often)
• Minimize highlighting and using paragraph summaries on margins

Question 7

What is the role of neuromodulatos for learning and memory?

Answer 7

• Neuromodulators carry the importance and value of material for the future (but not the content of the material.
• Neuromodulators are chemicals that influence how a neuron responds to other neurons and the subconscious mind.

Question 8

Which neuromodulators are there and what are they influencing?

Answer 8

• Acetylcholin: focussed learning and synaptic plasticity
• Dopamin: motivation and reward learning, released upon unexpected reward, affects decision making and value of sensory inputs
• Serotonin: affects social life and risk-taking behavior. Low serotonin > high risk-taking behavior

Question 9

What is the role of emotions in learning?

Answer 9

• Emotions are intertwined with perception and attention
• Emotions interact with learning and memory

Question 10

What are the values of a library of chunks?

Answer 10

• It’s the way to expertise, the number of chunks increases the number of potential combinations.
• Chunks can be combined in new and creative ways.
• Chunked concepts can be transferred to other disciplines / problems.
• The diffuse mode can help connect chunks in creative ways.
• Types and classes of problems can be found.
• Sequential and holistic thinking can be used.