Retrieval Practice
If you have ever used flashcards, studied with friends by quizzing each other, or had to write a paper on a topic, you have used retrieval practice. Creating a concept map or notes from memory can be a great way to relearn information through recall.
See below for details or review this downloadable poster.
How to Do It
Put away your class materials, and write or sketch everything you know. Be as thorough as possible. Then, check your class materials for accuracy and important points you missed.
Take as many practice tests as you can get your hands on. If you don’t have ready-made tests, try making your own and trading with a friend who has done the same.
You can also make flashcards. Just make sure you practice recalling the information on them, and go beyond definitions by thinking of links between ideas.
Note:
Retrieval practice works best when you go back to check your class materials for accuracy afterward.
Retrieval is hard! If you’re struggling, identify the things you’ve missed from your class materials, and work your way up to recalling it on your own with the class materials closed.
Don’t only recall words and definitions. Make sure to recall main ideas, how things are related or different from one another, and new examples.
Six Strategies for Effective Learning by Yana Weinstein, Megan Smith, & Oliver Caviglioli is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://www.learningscientists.org.