This document discusses how learning occurs through encoding, consolidating, and retrieving information. Encoding involves converting sensory perceptions into meaningful representations in the brain, called memory traces. Consolidation helps organize and solidify learning by forming connections to prior knowledge. Retrieval after time also strengthens memories and enables them to connect to new learning through a process called reconsolidation. Desirable difficulties that make initial learning challenging can result in stronger memory through increased effort.

1. Embrace
Dif
fi
culties
The importance of e
ff
ort in
practicing
Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels.com

3. Short-term
impediments
that make
for stronger
learning
have come
to be called
desirable
difficulties.
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4. How
learning
occurs
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5. encoding
Photo by Je
ff
erson Santos on Unsplash.com

6. This process of converting sensory
perceptions into meaningful representations
in the brain is still not perfectly understood.
We call the process encoding, and we call
the new representations within the brain
memory traces.
(Brown, et al. 2014)

7. Photo by Je
ff
erson Santos on Unsplash.com
encoding

8. Photo by Mike from Pexels.com
consolidating

9. Prior knowledge is a prerequisite for
making sense of new learning, and
forming those connections is an
important task of consolidation.
(Brown, et al. 2014)

10. Consolidation helps organize and
solidify learning, …
(Brown, et al. 2014)

11. Photo by alan bridges from FreeImages
retrieval

12. Consolidation helps organize and solidify
learning, and, notably, so does retrieval after a
lapse of some time, because the act of retrieving
a memory from long-term storage can both
strengthen the memory traces and at the same
time make them modifiable again, enabling them,
for example, to connect to more recent learning.
This process is called reconsolidation.
(Brown, et al. 2014)

13. Embrace
Dif
fi
culties
The importance of e
ff
ort in
practicing
Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels.com