Learning to Learn: Psychology, Memory and Motivation

Elaborative interrogation is a process by which you enhance learning by asking yourself why certain facts or concepts you are trying to learn are true. It encourages you to integrate new information with what you already know, creating a richer knowledge base. To practice elaborative interrogation, after reading a statement or learning a new concept, ask yourself questions such as:

– Why does this make sense in the context of what I know?
– Why is this fact true?
– How does this information fit with other things I’ve learned?

This approach prompts you to think more deeply about the material and to form connections between new information and existing knowledge.

Self-explanation is a related technique where you explain and articulate the reasons behind your problem-solving process or the understanding of a concept. This method forces you to clarify your thoughts, identify gaps in your understanding, and reinforce your learning. To practice self-explanation, you might:

– Summarise what you have learned in your own words.
– Explain to yourself the steps taken to solve a problem and why each step is necessary.
– Reflect on how new information relates to what you already know.

By regularly engaging in self-explanation, you will become more adept at organising and integrating new knowledge.