When your learners advance, you observe changes: they know and do things they couldn’t before, and these changes are long-lasting. Their new skills are applied not only in the learning context but also across varied scenarios.
(Doesn’t this remind you of something? Yes, the three dimensions of learning effectiveness: progress, retention, and transfer!) 🎓
🔎 The two key phases of learning
1️⃣ Encoding: the first imprint 🧠
In this initial phase, the learner:
Perceives and analyzes information from their environment.
Extracts meaning to form a nascent but fragile memory.
💡 Concrete example: When learning to make pancake batter, you discover that mixing all the ingredients at once creates lumps. Encoding involves understanding and remembering: “It’s better to mix the ingredients gradually.”
2️⃣ Consolidation: strengthening the mental imprint 🔗
Over time, the initial memory evolves:
It activates when recalling or applying the information.
Each activation strengthens the memory, making it easier to retrieve.
💡 Concrete example: Each time you make pancake batter (or waffle batter, or even a vinaigrette!), you reuse and reinforce this memory.
Through repetition, this process becomes automatic, requiring no conscious effort.
🔁 Encoding and consolidation: an interactive process
These two phases are not always linear:
There are back-and-forth interactions between encoding and consolidation.
Similar experiences reinforce neighbouring memories, while mistakes or feedback can re-encode poorly consolidated traces.
⚠️Caution! Without feedback, poorly encoded skills can become ingrained and automated incorrectly. Imagine a tyrannical manager who never receives feedback or a cook whose family never critiques their poorly made dishes—these errors can become deeply rooted.
🍳 An illustrative example: learning through pancakes
Encoding: You learn that adding all the ingredients at once creates lumps. You remember: “Ingredients must be mixed gradually.”
Consolidation: Each new attempt (whether a success or failure) reinforces this rule, anchoring it further in your memory.
Automation: Over time, this step becomes second nature. Whether making pancakes, waffles, or vinaigrette, you apply this rule effortlessly.
🛠️ The ingredients of lasting learning
Encoding and consolidation highlight the essential elements for fostering effective, durable learning. These two phases, supported by appropriate feedback, ensure robust skills applicable across various contexts. 🚀
Keywords: learning phases, pedagogical recommendations
Have additional questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Our team is here to support and guide you in your projects! 💬
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