(from P.A.Wozniak, Economics of Learning)
Reusing previously formed memories is the key to minimizing the complexity of synaptic patterns. This gives the preference to metaphoric rather than literal presentation of the drilled material.
The difference between demand and quantity demanded is that demand is described by the quantity-price curve, while quantity demanded is the value of demand for a given price level. The answer to the question "What is the difference between demand and quantity demanded?" might assume quite intricate wording if the above explanation was to be the way of grasping the learned difference. Instead, by extracting the essential nature of the difference in question, the following approach may be taken:
Q: What is the difference between demand and quantity demanded?
A: same as between a curve and a point
This approach is by far more effective in ensuring the student’s comprehension, and what is equally important, the resulting A-factor is, in most cases, very high. The recommended extension to the presented answer might be placed in parentheses with, for example, the following wording: "demand is described by the quantity-price curve, while quantity demanded refers to a single point on the demand curve".
Let us yet consider an example in which the metaphoric approach goes yet a step further by using nearly poetic language in order to describe economic concepts. In technology and innovation theories of profit, the creative effort of firms competing on the market can be translated into economic profit. In other words, technology and innovation are used to level monopolistic advantage of competitors, or to unbalance the conditions of perfect competition. By destroying the old, technology and innovation generates above normal profit. Here is a catchy item that is bound to show high A-factor value:
Q: What is the figurative statement that accurately reflects the working of technology and innovation in generating profit?
A: perennial gale of creative destruction
Note, that the later-discussed
vivid and graphic elements in memorized items serve exactly the
same purpose as the metaphoric approach: capitalizing on existing
memories, or even on inborn neural structures, to form steady
memory engrams.