Elaborative rehearsal
/ɪˈlæbəˌreɪtɪv rɪˈhɜrsəl/
noun phraseB2
Definition
Elaborative rehearsal means learning by thinking about the meaning of new information and linking it to your existing knowledge. Instead of just repeating something many times, you try to understand it deeply and make connections, which helps your brain store it in long-term memory.
Was this helpful?
⚡ See It in Action
Memory technique of linking new information to known ideas
- •Students use elaborative rehearsal to remember vocabulary by making sentences.
- •When learning history, elaborative rehearsal helps by connecting events to personal experiences.
- •Elaborative rehearsal improves long-term memory better than just repeating words.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "elaborative rehearsal" like "practice" (A1 word), but instead of just repeating, you add details and connections to what you already know.
- ✓Picture building a small house with blocks: instead of just stacking blocks, you carefully connect each block to make the house stronger and more interesting.
- ✓It's the feeling when you explain a new idea to a friend using examples you both understand—it helps you remember better.
- ✓Sounds like "elaborate" (which means to add more detail) + "rehearsal" (practice) → imagine practicing a dance but adding your own style to make it special and memorable.
- ✓Think of a teacher who asks you to relate a story to your own life to help you remember it better.
- ✓NOT like "maintenance rehearsal" (just repeating words many times without thinking), elaborative rehearsal uses deeper thinking and connections.
- ✓NOT like "cramming" (quick, last-minute memorizing), elaborative rehearsal is slower and helps memory last longer.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Deep processing: thinking deeply about information (Use when emphasizing understanding rather than just practice)
- •Meaningful learning: learning by understanding and connecting ideas (Use in educational contexts)
- •Active rehearsal: practicing with active thinking and connection (Use when focusing on active memory techniques)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "elaborative" (from "elaborate" meaning to add detail) + "rehearsal" (practice or repeating to learn)
- •Etymology: "Elaborate" comes from Latin "elaborare" meaning to work out carefully; "rehearsal" from Old French "rehercier" meaning to repeat
- •Historical development: The term comes from psychology and education, describing a memory method developed in the 20th century
- •Modern usage: Used in learning and memory studies to describe effective ways to remember information longer by connecting it to what you already know
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How can you use elaborative rehearsal in your daily learning to remember things better?
•What kinds of connections help you the most when you try to remember new information?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Elaborative rehearsal helps memory by connecting new facts ___ things you already ___.
2.Unlike simple repetition, elaborative rehearsal requires ___ thinking about the meaning.
3.When you use elaborative rehearsal, you ___ more likely to remember information for a ___ time.
4.Students often use elaborative rehearsal by making ___ or examples related to new words.
5.Elaborative rehearsal is different from maintenance rehearsal because it focuses on ___ understanding, not just repeating.
6.Teachers encourage elaborative rehearsal to help students ___ information deeply, not just memorize.
7.If you only repeat information without elaborative rehearsal, you might forget it ___ after.