How to Level Up Your Learning with Chunking - F07
I'm sorry for the brief hiatus—been in the lab crafting a new product that merges LLM might with human insight. With a bit of luck, I am eyeing next week to unveil the waitlist!
The key to memory consolidation is finding a way to encode information in your mind in such a way that it becomes sticky. -Joshua Foer, Author of Moonwalking with Einstein
Have you ever marveled at how some folks can recall entire lists of groceries, or effortlessly remember the names of everyone at a party they went to last week, or which year a particular movie was released? It's not just raw brainpower at play here—it's about using the right tricks. One such trick, or let's call it a technique, is 'chunking', my focus for today’s edition.
So, what is chunking?
Simply put, it is the process of grouping different information into more manageable or meaningful bits (chunks) in your brain so it is easier to remember. This technique taps into our brains for order and symmetry, making it easier to process, remember, and retrieve information.
Imagine your brain as a vast library. Without a system, finding a specific book (or memory) could take forever. Chunking is akin to organizing this library into sections, rows, and subjects—it's about creating a system that makes finding and retrieving information a breeze. When you chunk information, you're essentially giving your brain a map to swiftly locate what it needs.
What is a good example of chunking?
The way we memorize phone numbers and credit card numbers (well, some of us chunk it). Grocery shopping as we organize it into produce, dairy, and snacks (Alexa does this well).
Think of chunking as a strategy for organizing information into manageable units or groups, making it easier to process and remember. Mnemonics, which we’ll get to in a few seconds, are specific memory aids or techniques within that strategy, designed to facilitate the recall of the information you've chunked.
So, in a way, chunking is about the what—what you group—and mnemonics are about the how—how you remember those groups. Mnemonics often rely on chunking as a foundational step but add creative associations (like visual images, rhymes, or stories) to enhance memory retention.
Mnemonics are memory aids that help us remember information through association, visualization, or organization.
Types of mnemonics:
Name
Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup
Did that ring a bell?
It’s a popular example of name mnemonics where the first letter of each word in a list is used to make a name of a person or thing. Dear King Philip… is used to remember the taxonomic classification system in biology—Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
Expression or Word
The first letter of each item in a list is arranged to form a phrase or word.
ROY G. BIV for colors in the spectrum. I had memorized VIBGYOR in school to learn the colors of the spectrum in the exact order. For readers schooled in India, do you recall BODMAS?
Model
Mind Maps, Pyramids, and Sequences are good examples. Model mnemonics are visual or physical representations that help recall information by using diagrams or building models. While I’ve been passionately writing about frameworks I’ve used throughout my career to increase my effectiveness at work, they are good examples of model mnemonics.
Note
This type of mnemonic is about structuring notes to help with memory. It could be through outlining, using bullet points, highlighting, and/or organizing as per categories you prefer.
Image
You use vivid, memorable images to represent information. It’s not photographic memory as the ones blessed with that ability don’t need an aid to recall information which is what mnemonic is i.e. memory aid does. Imagine a photo frame that captures sunlight and uses it to grow leaves around its border. The frame is synthesizing leaves from the light, creating a visual pun to remember the process plants use to convert light energy into chemical energy.
It’s all about how you want to remember. It doesn't need to make sense to anyone but you ??
Connection
It’s about linking information to familiar places, journeys, or things. If you need to remember key points for a meeting or presentation, mentally place each main topic in different locations in the conference room. For example, the introduction is at the door, where you greet everyone. The market analysis is on the window as you have a view of shops (market), the budget discussion is at the roundtable (associated with zero), and the Q&A session is near the exit.
Spelling
Spelling mnemonics are used to remember the correct spelling of words by creating a phrase where the first letters of each word spell out the target word. To remember how to spell "NECESSARY," one might use the phrase "Never Eat Crisps, Eat Salad Sandwiches, And Remain Young." This helps to remember that there is one C and two S's in "necessary."
Music
Every Amplifier Deserves Good Beats Everyday is popular for guitar tuning (my son assures me it still is)
领英推è
Rhyme
Rhyme mnemonics use simple, memorable rhymes to encode information. In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
In essence, chunking using mnemonics leverages the brain's natural tendencies for pattern recognition and organization. It's not just about making memory storage more efficient; it's about enhancing the way we understand and interact with the world around us. By mastering chunking, we can turn our brains into a well-oiled machine, ready to tackle the complexities of the modern world with ease and confidence.
Why does this matter?
As the world bombards us with information, mastering chunking allows us to sort, store, and retrieve this data with ease, turning a flood of details (books, SOPs at work, phone numbers, acronyms, and so so much more) into neatly organized knowledge. This isn't just about boosting memory; it's about enhancing learning, productivity, and creativity. In essence, refining your chunking abilities is an investment in a more organized, capable, and resilient mind.
By understanding and applying chunking, we can unlock a part of our brain's potential that makes learning and remembering more efficient and enjoyable.
Where Does Chunking Help?
Chunking is not just a memory aid; it's a versatile cognitive strategy with applications in various domains:
- Learning New Information: Whether it's preparing for a presentation, examination, or mastering a new skill, chunking can help break down the material into digestible segments, facilitating deeper understanding and retention.
Let's say you're gearing up for a big presentation on digital marketing. The amount of info you need to cover—SEO, content marketing, social media, and the rest—might seem like a mammoth task. Here's where chunking comes into play. Break it down into bite-sized pieces: one chunk for SEO, another for social media, you get the drift. Dive into each piece, like strategies and tools, and before you know it, you've got the whole picture and some of us even draw our version of mindmap on the paper to visualize our connections and understanding. It makes prepping way less overwhelming and by the time you're ready to present, you'll know your stuff inside and out, ready to nail it with confidence.
- Problem-Solving: In complex problem-solving, chunking helps by breaking down the problem into its constituent elements, making it easier to devise and apply solutions.
By approaching problem-solving using a framework, we're instinctively applying chunking to navigate through the maze and find simple and effective solutions. It’s this innate skill that leads us to create frameworks. Constructing a framework is chunking at its best. And every time we deploy that framework, we're not just using it; we're honing our chunking abilities.
- Creativity and Innovation: By reorganizing existing knowledge into new chunks, we can make novel connections, spurring creativity and innovation.
Think of your brain as a creative studio where ideas mingle like guests at a party. Chunking is like introducing groups of these ideas based on what they have in common—maybe one group's all about tech, another's into art. As you shuffle these groups around, mixing tech with art, suddenly, new, exciting ideas spark—like using AI to create digital masterpieces. This is chunking sparking creativity. It's about seeing old knowledge in fresh, innovative ways, and bam, you're not just thinking outside the box; you're redesigning the box entirely.
SIMPLE Framework - A guide to get better at chunking
Select the Information
Start Small: Choose a manageable piece of information you want to learn or remember. It could be anything from a grocery list to a new concept you're studying.
Identify Categories
Make Connections: Break down the information into broader categories or themes. These are your initial chunks, grouping related items or ideas.
Memorize with Mnemonics
Create Aids: Use mnemonic devices to remember your chunks. This could be a rhyme, an acronym, or a small story linking the items in each chunk.
Practice Regularly
Rehearse: Go over your chunks regularly. Repetition is key to transferring these chunks from short-term to long-term memory.
Link New to Known
Build Bridges: Connect new chunks to something you already know well. This association strengthens memory and makes new information easier to recall.
Expand and Apply
Grow Gradually: As you become comfortable, expand your chunks with more details or apply your chunking skills to more complex information. Try to use your chunked knowledge in real-life situations or discussions to reinforce learning.
Let’s put this to the test.
Let's talk about a topic that's everywhere these days - Artificial Intelligence, or AI for short. You can't escape it. It feels like every product we use or company we know is getting in on the AI action. And have you noticed? It's even making headlines as the big reason for all those job shake-ups in 2024, with businesses betting big on AI tech. So, I'm pretty sure you've caught wind of AI by now.
Alright, let's take my SIMPLE Framework for a spin with learning a new concept. I'm assuming you've got a handle on AI by this point, and maybe some of you are even building AI-powered solutions at work. But hang tight, because we're going to put this framework to the test and tackle learning something fresh together.
- Select the Information: The broad topic of Artificial Intelligence.
- Identify Categories: Let’s break it into Machine Learning, Neural Networks, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Robotics.
- Memorize with Mnemonics: For these categories, you might create a mnemonic like "Many New Nerds Rock" to easily recall Machine Learning, Neural Networks, NLP, and Robotics.
- Practice Regularly: Dedicate time to review each category, perhaps focusing on one category per study session. Regular repetition will embed these chunks deeply into your memory. For remembering the categories, even if you say Many New Nerds Rock once a day for the next 5 days and connect it to what they refer to, it’ll become a part of your long-term memory, and even one year down the line, you’ll be able to remember it. Challenge accepted?
- Link New to Known: Connect each AI category to something familiar. For instance, link Machine Learning to your experience with recommendation algorithms as you get on “we think you’ll like†on Netflix or “you may also like†on Amazon, or Neural Networks to the brain’s network of neurons.
- Expand and Apply: As you get comfortable with the basics, dive deeper into each category. For Machine Learning, explore different algorithms. In Neural Networks, learn about various architectures. Try applying your knowledge by discussing AI trends with folks in your circle who are already familiar.
Substitute AI with anything else if you must but following the SIMPLE framework will produce the same results: learning something new!
Wrap up
If you want to invest in improving your memory. I strongly recommend reading Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer. In his journey to understand the capabilities of human memory, Foer uncovers that the key to extraordinary memory feats lies not in innate talent, but in the strategic use of techniques like chunking. By creating vivid, memorable associations, individuals can dramatically enhance their ability to recall complex information.
By adopting chunking and integrating the SIMPLE framework, you're set to tap into the untapped potential of your brain, revolutionizing the way you learn, recall, brainstorm, and elevate your overall effectiveness. In line with my ethos of linking effort with broader goals, enhancing your effectiveness—be it in your professional life or personal endeavors—is the ultimate aim, isn't it?
Thanks for reading. I’d love to hear your feedback. You can either reply or contact me at ani@frameworkgarage.com
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