What does chunking refer to in learning?

Chunking refers to the cognitive process of grouping individual pieces of information into larger, more manageable units, which helps improve memory retention and recall. By organizing information into chunks, learners can more easily understand and remember it as they create meaningful connections between the grouped items. This technique is particularly useful in situations where a learner is faced with a significant amount of information, as it reduces the cognitive load and allows for more efficient processing.

For example, when memorizing a long string of numbers, such as 123456789, instead of trying to remember each digit individually, one can chunk the numbers into groups like 123-456-789. This method not only makes it easier to recall the numbers but also aids in understanding related concepts when they are grouped logically, leading to better overall learning outcomes.