Basics of Content Chunking

A simple visual learning on what is chunking, why we need to chunk and how to chunk the content especially for e-Learning materials.

1. What is Chunking? Why chunk content? How to Chunk?

2. What is Chunking? Strategy Easy to Manage Shorter Bite-size pieces Easier to remember Information Breaking up content

3. Chunking is a strategy used to improve memory performance . What is Chunking? Organising and grouping various pieces of information together Organise Memorise the chunks instead of the individual information - working memory hold a limited amount of data at the same time. Process Easy retrieval of the information ( short-term memory ) Retrieve These chunks also act as cues, allowing for easy recollection of information. Cues

4. Our Memory Before we learn further, let’s understand these 2 terms. Short-term Memory Working Memory

5. After this, information is either committed to long term memory, or lost all together. What is Short-term Memory? Sounds images words Stores information for about 20 - 30 seconds. Stores sounds, images and words Hello Premier Brain Ice Cream

6. Short-term Memory Characteristics The 3 Main Characteristics L ast up to 20 seconds. Its capacity is limited to 7 ±2 chunks of independent information (Miller’s Law) Reasons for weakening of memory, include (medication, sleep deprivation or a head injury ) Brief Duration 7 ± 2 Chunks Weakening

7. Working Memory Learning is the process of acquiring new information in your working memory and integrating it with existing knowledge in your long-term memory .  Once it’s in long-term memory you can recall it and apply the knowledge to the real world. This is how our brain process the information received.

8. Working Memory So , chunking the content helps our brain to process new information more easier and faster.

9. HAIYA!!! OK, now we learn how to chunk The Content

10. But, why chunk content ? It helps you present information in a way that makes it easy for your audience to understand and remember .

11. 3 Chunking Strategies 1 2 3

12. Learning is acquiring new, or modifying and reinforcing, existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves. Learning is not compulsory; it is contextual. It does not happen all at once, but builds upon and is shaped by what we already know. To that end, learning may be viewed as a process, rather than a collection of factual and procedural knowledge . Learning produces changes in the organism and the changes produced are relatively permanent How to Chunk Content?

13. 1 Start by listing topics covered by your learning outcomes . 2 Group the topics into similar items. 3 Give a topic name to each group.

14. Example: Content Chunking Topic 1: item A Topic 2: item B Topic 3: item C Topic 4: item D Topic 5: item E Topic 6: item F Topic 7: item G Topic 8: item H Topic 9: item J Step 1 List all topics covered by your learning outcomes.

15. Example: Content Chunking Step 2 Group the topics into similar items Topic 1: item A Topic 2: item B Topic 3: item C Topic 4: item D Topic 5: item E Topic 6: item F Topic 7: item G Topic 8: item H Topic 9: item J

16. Example: Content Chunking Step 3 Give a topic name to each group Topic 1: item A Topic 2: item B Topic 3: item C Topic 4: item D Topic 5: item E Topic 6: item F Topic 7: item G Topic 8: item H Topic 9: item J Basic of x Types of y Process of z Process of w

17. System concept descriptions provide : The missions, features, capabilities and functions of the system Major system components and interactions Operational environment including manual procedures required Operational modes such as production, backup and maintenance Interfaces with other systems Required performance characteristics such as response time, throughput and data volumes Quality attributes such as availability, reliability and usability Other considerations such as security, audit, safety and failure modes in emergency situations Deployment considerations such as acquisition of business data to support the system including data cleansing and loading The classes of users that will interact with the system Requirements for support of the system such as maintenance organization and help desk. The following bulleted list has too many chunks presented at once: Bad Example

18. System concept descriptions provide: Example 1 (Bullet Style)

19. System concept descriptions provide: Example 2 (Diagram) Functional Requirements The missions, features, capabilities and functions of the system Major system components and interactions Operational environment including manual procedures required Operational modes such as production, backup and maintenance Interfaces with other systems Non-functional Requirements Required performance characteristics such as response time, throughput and data volumes Quality attributes such as availability, reliability and usability Other considerations such as security, audit, safety and failure modes in emergency situations Deployment and Operational Requirements Deployment considerations such as acquisition of business data to support the system including data cleansing and loading The classes of users that will interact with the system Requirements for support of the system such as maintenance organization and help desk.

20. Activity 2 5 6 3 9 8 7 4 1 Try to memorize the following "code symbols" in 20 seconds

21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 By grouping the symbols into a meaningful, memorable pattern , we reduce the number of individual things you have to memorise . How about now? It is easier right?

22. Chop content Summary Easy to learn Improve memory performance Yeah! It has Improved my memory performance!

23. References http://elearningindustry.com/3-chunking-strategies-that-every-instructional-designer-should-know 3 Chunking Strategies Chunking Psychology Effective Memory Strategy 4 Tips for Content Chunking http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chunking_% 28psychology%29 https://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/how-can-i-use-chunking-as-an-effective-memory-strategy-in-the-classroom / http://elearningindustry.com/4-tips-for-content-chunking-in-e-learning 1 2 3 4

24. Fareeza Marican Abu Backer Maricar Senior Learning Designer E-mail : [email protected] Slides : www.slideshare.net/FareezaM Twitter: http://twitter.com/fareeza81 IMU : http://www.imu.edu.my