Learning That CLICS

CHAPTER 3

Applying Capacity

There is a common idiom we use when we forget to do something: “It slipped my mind.” Ever wonder how memory can literally “slip” out of one’s mind? This will make a lot of sense when we understand how the mind works in retaining and retrieving memory—things can “slip” out! But how?

When we start to learn and acquire new information, we have very limited storage in what is known as short-term memory or “working memory.” The amount of incoming memory we can store is what we refer to as “capacity.” Simply put, capacity is the competition for working memory.

How to Leverage CLICS

In this chapter, we focus on the domain of Capacity (Figure 3-1).

There are clear consequences to overestimating one’s capacity—feeling overloaded ...