Plain English Meaning

It is a way of describing how the brain receives information from the world, decides what to pay attention to, holds it briefly while thinking, moves the important parts into long-term memory, and then uses it later. Instructors apply this idea to understand why students learn some things easily and forget others.

Full Definition

A model of how the human mind takes in, filters, stores, and uses information, treating the brain somewhat like a computer that receives input through the senses, processes it through short-term and long-term memory, and produces a response. In aviation training, it is used to explain how students perceive, understand, and retain knowledge and skills.

Context Anchor

Seen in flight instructor training when discussing how students learn, why they become overloaded, and how instruction can be paced so they can understand and remember it.

Derivation

From Latin informare, meaning to give shape to or instruct, and processus, meaning a going forward or series of steps. The phrase describes the mind moving information forward through a series of , much like a line, until it becomes useful knowledge.