Which term best describes the process of making connections to prior knowledge during learning?

The correct choice is schema activation. This term refers to the cognitive process whereby learners connect new information to their existing knowledge and experiences, allowing them to more effectively understand and retain new material. When learners activate their schemas, they draw upon their background knowledge to create a framework that supports the absorption and integration of new information. This process enhances comprehension because it helps to establish relevance and context, making it easier for individuals to grasp complex concepts and recall them later.

While encoding is a relevant process, as it involves transforming information into a format that can be stored in memory, it does not specifically emphasize the connection to prior knowledge, which is crucial for deeper understanding and lasting retention. Automaticity relates to the ability to perform tasks with little conscious effort after sufficient practice, and retrieval is the process of recalling information from memory. However, neither of these directly addresses the importance of linking new information to what one already knows, which is the essence of schema activation.