Mini-lessons and learning retention

The two diagrams below show two lessons - in the first the main lesson content is not split into mini-lessons, the second is split.

In the lesson shown above the information has some chunks, but the main content is delivered as 'one long session'.

If we take the earlier example of the roundabout lesson this lesson might have a mixture of left, straight ahead and right turns throughout without specific training and practise for each.

The large dip in the middle will often relate directly to the learner's energy and interest levels. A slump in learning, motivation and enjoyment!

Notice the average recall line is on the lesson shown below.

The optimum size for learning chunks will vary from person-to-person and from topic-to-topic but typically will be somewhere between 5 and 20 minutes (20 minutes would only allow two mini-lessons in a one hour lesson).

On the diagram immediately above the average recall line (green line) is much higher. By splitting lessons in this way the information will be easier to learn and, generally speaking, the lesson will be more interesting.

Information is recalled from the beginning and end of each chunk. As the lesson moves on there will also be repetition and revision as the task is performed in a different situation or at a different skill level - these things also promote understanding and memory.

If you research ‘chunking' online you will discover that people learn best when information is presented in manageable 'bite sized' chunks.

Next: An example of how mini-lessons might fit into a one hour lesson...