Your mind has no limits to learning!!
Right?
How long does it take you to learn things and make it stay in your memory? Once you read something, how easily can you grasp it?
To answer these, first understand that there's no such thing as limits to learning, and still there's one thing called Chunking Strategy!
What is the Strategy of Chunking?
If you are given a piece of 15 letters in a single go, then how many can you remember just at the first glance?
Some of you can remember only 5, while some of you can remember 7, or in extraordinary situations, some can even remember 8-9 letters in a single go.
In layman's terms, it's easy to take the individual pieces of information and grouping them into larger units is a lot easier than going head-to-head with the larger units of information.
What we call small pieces, chunks!
Chunks are the smaller units that keep on combining to give a larger piece of information.
Right?
When you divide all the given information into small chunks, then you get the ability to memorize more information.
And that is exactly the Strategy of Chunking!
Basically, in chunking, we try to break large pieces of information into smaller ones and try to store them in short-term memory.
This strategy helps in faster learning and easy memorization. Once you start using it, you will be stunned by its large number of benefits.
Now, where are you going to use it?
Let's find some answers!
Strategy of Chunking!
You must be giving a lot of tests and exams these days.
What if I say that chunking can act as a great savior for you!
Let’s have a look at some of the best benefits and ways to use the strategy of chunking!
1. Using Acronyms Approach
Suppose, for the English test you need to learn some words in proper sequential order. But, you are not able to remember those words.
Then you can use this acronym approach.
For this approach, you need to take the first letter of each word and create an acronym for it.
Once you learn this acronym, you will be able to memorize all the words in a single go without any difficulty.
In this, you simplify different items to just one and this becomes the strategy of chunking.
This is a very innovative technique for subjects like Business Studies, English, etc.
2. Using the Acrostics Approach
Acrostics technique is considered to be the same as the acronym technique, but with a slight difference.
In the acronym, you remember the first letter of every word. But, for the acrostics, you need to take the first letter of every word and assign a new word to it.
To better understand it, let's take the example of the Great rivers of India i.e. Yamuna, Ganga, Chenab, Jhelum, Godavari, Narmada.
From these names take the first letter of each word and make a memorable phrase out of it like "You Go Change Junior Group Names!"
3. Use Associated Concepts
Once you get a whole list of items in your hand that you need to grab, then chunking comes to the rescue.
When you get a list of large items try to simplify it by using the acronym or acrostics approach. You can make the list depending upon the associations you can make with the list.
4. Assist in Related Numbers
For most of the students, History is one of the most difficult subjects.
But, can you recall why it is difficult?
It's the dates that you encounter in this subject. With chunking, you can easily memorize the dates without any obstacles.
Let’s see to its solution.
Try to find the pattern between different dates. For example, if there is one date and the other is at a 1000 years gap.
The British East India Company was formed in 1599 AD.
See, here you go!
Ways to inculcate chunking in studying
Now, the most important question, how to use this strategy?
To use the strategy of chunking, you need to follow a three-step mechanism as listed below.
1. Practice
The first and foremost thing while using this technique is to practice it well. Challenge yourself to how many words or dates you can remember. The more you challenge yourself, the more you will be able to remember large chunks of information.
2. Look for Connections
While using this technique make sure to look for the connections in the words.
Try to find out how you can relate to them? Is there something common that is connecting both of them?
There might be the same number of letters in the string. Or they might be serving a similar purpose or not. This will help you use the strategy of chunking to its full potential.
3. Make Associations
Try linking the group of items to make associations. This will help the groups to be easily memorized.
Once you start using it, you will see the wonderful results happening around you.
Final Words
The Strategy of Chunking can help you a lot in your study routine.
Once you start using it, you will see how you can efficiently use short-term memory. This will also help you analyze how easily you can make the groups and learn things.
So, without any further delays, implement the strategy of chunking in your daily routine.
