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When you learn things, you do so in a focused mode using working memory. Working memory can be thought of as a re-wipeable white/black board. The information,sk
by bootload 10y ago
When you learn things, you do so in a focused mode using working memory. Working memory can be thought of as a re-wipeable white/black board. The information,skill,idea is called a CHUNK and is encoded into a weak neural loop . You strengthen loose understanding through practice and repetition.
A chunk has no context. Context is how a chunk fits into the big picture of what you already know. At a neural level, context means neurons are making new connections. Think of a chunk as the WHAT. The context as HOW you use the chunk you are learning.
For a learned chunk to be useful, you need to know HOW a chunk is useful. You need to know the CONTEXT. Context is knowing the HOW and WHEN to use what you have learned. If you change from focused learning to relaxation, you can let your un-focused mind create these connections. [0]
By letting the brain drift into diffuse mode (unfocused attention), you are making connections between chunks, creating context. The brain is doing this at a lower level of conscience by sleeping or relaxing or changing focus. You use a bath, Darwin had his ^thinking path^ for the same reasons. [1],[2]
Reference
[0] https://www.brainscape.com/blog/2016/08/better-learning-focused-vs-diffuse-thinking/ https://www.brainscape.com/blog/2016/08/better-learning-focu...
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin
[2] "Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects" ~ https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
- hueving 10y agoIs there any science behind Chunks, or is it just a seemingly useful way to model learning?
- bootload 10y agoThe science underpinning the idea of learning, memory, recall and is based/described in neuroscience at at cellular level. So you can read papers. The coursework is really at a more abstracted level describing the processes as a model based on cited research. This is a high level course to improve learning, not STEM as such. Still very useful. Chunking is described in more detail at Week2 https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/home/week/2 https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/home/we... and books: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1101982853/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=learningho0a9-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1101982853&linkId=f38b0f0bf9f04b8830adc9b9d6df47a9 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1101982853/ref=as_li_qf_sp... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0544456238/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=learningho0a9-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0544456238&linkId=43f3a7bff9f00f282182cf825f4a09f5 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0544456238/ref=as_li_qf_sp... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743277465/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=learningho0a9-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0743277465&linkId=5056f0364b1965e3b78fd6ed1879b04c https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743277465/ref=as_li_qf_sp... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674729013/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=learningho0a9-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0674729013&linkId=f278bfbdbd7462ea2d0a321bcb59b894 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674729013/ref=as_li_qf_sp... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1579220541/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=learningho0a9-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1579220541&linkId=527c6ac2c4aad9d550e9992152bb27e6 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1579220541/ref=as_li_qf_sp...
- TheLilHipster 10y agoFuck this is relatable. I'm quite a solitary person, I'm constantly in my head contextualizing and overhauling past opinions and bias. I thought this was mainly computers that taught me to think this way, didn't realise there was documented philosophy behind it.