Definition
The process by which a learner takes in new information, organizes it, connects it to what they already know, and stores it so it can be recalled and used later. In instructional theory, it is recognized as occurring in stages, moving from simple memorization, through understanding, to the ability to apply and correlate the information with other knowledge.
Plain English
How a person learns something new—taking it in, making sense of it, linking it to what they already know, and being able to use it later.
Context Anchor
Used in aviation instructor material when describing how students learn before they apply skills in the airplane.
Derivation
From Latin acquirere, meaning 'to get or gain,' and Greek-rooted gnosis, 'knowing.' Together the phrase points to the act of gaining knowing—not just collecting facts, but bringing them inside so they become usable.
Why Pilots Care
Instructors who understand how knowledge is acquired can design lessons that move students past rote memorization into real understanding, which is what produces safe, capable pilots in the cockpit.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as simple memorization. In this context, acquisition of knowledge means gaining understanding that can be used in training and flying.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor planned the lesson to support the student's acquisition of knowledge about weather systems, building from basic terms to real-world flight decisions.
Example Sentence 2
Instructors support the acquisition of knowledge by clearing each new term before the student continues reading.