How We Learn About Our Networked World

Abstract

We receive bits of information every day. They come to us in a stream. When we listen to music, read a book, or solve a math problem we receive a stream of musical bits, word bits, or math bits. Our minds arrange that stream into a network. A network links together bits of information like musical notes, syllables, or math concepts. Networks help us to organize information and anticipate what is coming next. In this article, we ask two questions about how our minds build networks: First, are some networks easier to learn than others? And second, do we find some links between bits of information more surprising than others? The answer to both questions is “yes.” The findings reveal how humans learn about the networked world around them. Knowing how humans learn can also help us understand how to teach in ways that will result in the best learning.