Learning by Chunking

Chunking involves similar ideas to Macro Operators and originates from psychological ideas on memory and problem solving.

The computational basis is in production systems (studied earlier).

SOAR is a system that use production rules to represent its knowledge. It also employs chunking to learn from experience.

Basic Outline of SOAR's Method

• SOAR solves problems it fires productions these are stored in long term memory.
• Some firings turn out to be more useful than others.
• When SOAR detects are useful sequence of firings, it creates chunks.
• A chunk is essentially a large production that does the work of an entire sequence of smaller ones.
• Chunks may be generalised before storing.