Day 13: Learning Technique 1: Active Recall

Today we discuss our first learning technique, active recall, which lies at the heart of active learning. You will learn what this technique is, the science behind it, why you should use it, and finally how you can apply it to accelerate your learning.

Resources for this lesson:

• Transcripts
• Worksheet
• List of Scientific References

Summary

What is Active Recall?

Active recall, which lies at the heart of active learning, is the process of pulling knowledge from your own memory rather than looking it up.

• The more brain power you put to recalling information, and the broader the set of contexts, you recall the materials in, the stronger and more broadly connected the neural links become.
• This technique involves recreating something you've learned in the past from your memory and thinking about it right now.

For example, you are learning about NFT's (non-fungible tokens). After spending time learning, rather than google the definition and how they are used, you recall that info from your own memory.

Why it matters: Active recall helps you retain information in long term memory so it can be applied later. Additionally, it provides feedback about what you know and don't know.

What does the science say?

When you actively work with materials, such as an active recall, you're forcing new spines to emerge in your neurons and connect with the axons of other neurons, creating links.

• Passively glancing over material does not encourage new neural connections.
• When you first learned something, there are weak sets of neurons linked in your brain, but when you start retrieving those links, you begin strengthening them.

Active recall has been compared to many other learning techniques, including rereading material [1], and those who practiced retrieving the information scored significantly higher on later tests.

Why should you use it?

If you practice active recall, you're more likely to remember information so it can be used and applied in new situations.

Another benefit of active recall is that it combats illusions of knowing [2].  We are very bad at judging whether or not we've learned some. With active recall, we either know it or we don't.

• After using active recall, you can check your notes to make sure you correctly and completely retrieved the information. This tells you whether or not you truly know something.

How do you use it?

The basic process is:

1. Engage with some learning material to learn new information
2. Put away the learning material and notes so you can't see it.
3. Try to recall from memory what you just learned.

Some examples of application:

• In a formal class, ask your teacher to provide practice tests or practice questions from your textbook and try and recall the information without notes as you answer those questions.
• If you don't have practice questions, make your own question. This process takes a lot of time, but if you create a study group, you can each create a few questions and trade.
• Work out example problems for yourself without looking at the solutions. Once you've solved the problem, check out your notes to make sure you went through the right process.
• When reading, try to recall the key points from a book, article or paper, look away and see if you can recall the key ideas of what you're reading.
• You can create practice tests for yourself or find some online about the material and take those without looking at any of your old notes or any of your old material.
• You can practice active recall by trying to re-explain any key ideas from your notes or what you're reading in simpler terms as if you were trying to explain them to a child.
• You can also create flashcards, bringing key concepts to mind without actually flipping them to the other side and just reading the answer. Apps like Anki, Quizlet, Kahoot!, GoConqur, Study Stack, and Brainscape can help.
• Explain your thinking out loud to another person or teach the key concepts to someone else
• Grab a piece of paper and try and write down everything that you know about the topic after you've learned it.
• Remember key points from what you're learning in mundane activities, like washing the dishes or going for a walk.

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Activity

Practice active recall by recalling the information you learned in this lesson without looking at your notes or the lesson material.

Try explaining the main ideas:

1. What is active recall?
2. Why does it work?
3. How can you apply it in your learning?

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Skill Lesson Mastered

Demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills presented in this lesson by applying it to the above activity. If, and only if, you have a full understanding and have mastered the knowledge and skills presented in this lesson, select the next lesson in the navigation.