Chunking
Overview
Chunking involves breaking information into smaller pieces, identifying similarities or patterns, and re-organizing and grouping information into manageable units for effective transfer from working memory (WM) to long-term memory (LTM) [1]. This information processing model is vital to learning design as it:
- overcomes the limitations of WM and prevents cognitive overload while processing large amounts of information
- organizes complex information into recognizable patterns that can be learned and recalled easily
Thus, chunking enables developing expertise by integrating small units of information into chunks that can be expanded and redefined over time.
- ↑ Martinez, M. (2010). The Cognitive Architecture. In Learning and Cognition: Design of the Mind