Chunking
Short Answer
Chunking means grouping items into meaningful units so working memory holds fewer “things” at once (e.g., 2026-01-01 instead of 2-0-2-6-0-1-0-1).
How to Chunk Anything
- Find natural boundaries (categories, substeps, patterns).
- Name each chunk (a short label is a retrieval handle).
- Practice recalling chunk labels first, then details.
- Connect chunks with a simple story or spatial layout if needed.
Good vs Bad Chunking
- Good: chunks have meaning (pattern, concept, category).
- Bad: chunks are arbitrary (you’ll forget the grouping rule).