General principles of learning suggest that students learn better if a teacher :

The correct answer is: first introduces the concept overall and then moves on to the intricacies of it.

Explanation:

Effective teaching and learning principles emphasize progressing from the whole to the parts (whole-to-part learning). When introducing a new topic, it is best for a teacher to first present a broad, overall overview of the concept. This gives students a holistic context, structural understanding, and a clear mental framework.

Once the overall concept is established, the teacher can systematically dive into the specific details, complexities, and intricacies. This approach helps students connect individual details to the bigger picture, leading to deeper comprehension and better retention.

Let's evaluate why the other options are less effective according to general principles of learning:

1. "first introduces the concept in its symbolic form and then moves to its physical form" – Learning is more effective when moving from concrete/physical forms to abstract/symbolic forms, not the reverse.

2. "first discusses what is not known to the student and then comes to what the student already knows" – Good pedagogy dictates moving from the known to the unknown so students can build upon prior knowledge.

3. "first discusses the concepts in terms of logic and reason and then grants opportunity to verify the ideas" – While logical reasoning is useful, presenting an overall picture first is a more foundational and effective general principle of learning.