Cognitive theorists say this is because elaboration helps learners form more meaningful associations between the new knowledge being acquired and their prior knowledge.
Elaboration is the deliberate act of expanding on an idea to process it more thoroughly.
This type of elaboration is a generative learning strategy you can use as a learner, teacher, or an instructional designer to make lessons more memorable. Since Wittrock's 1974 study on Generative Strategies, many studies have compared the effectiveness of supplying learners with instructional devices versus allowing learners to generate their own. Generally, the studies have found that learners perform better on comprehension and recall tests when they generate associations for themselves, rather than having them supplied. Some Practical Applications Elaboration can be used in at least six of Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction. To answer they'll have to focus their attention on the topic and thereby generate elaborations.