We define the term simply: it is a case where older learning makes new learning harder to recall. This matter affects daily learning, from classroom study to on-the-job training across the United States. In this view, a specific type of interference acts like a memory overlap. Old items keep “winning” when we try to use…
We open with a clear glossary-style definition to set expectations. We define encoding as the process that gets information into our memory system so it can be stored and later retrieved. We will position this page as a definition first and then expand into practical guidance. Our goal is to explain how encoding fits into…
We open with a clear, dictionary-style line that frames this core concept in cognitive psychology and learning. Here, we call out how focused mental work helps the brain encode new facts and skills. By effortful we mean active attention and deliberate rehearsal. We describe why the brain feels strain when we learn complex material and…