Forgetting Curve and Retrieval Practice

Think of a time you were trying to learn someone’s name. You meet them, hear their name, repeat it back to them to make sure you got it right, and then an hour later, it’s gone. You can’t remember it anymore, and now you have to figure out how you are going to learn their name again. Don’t worry, that’s normal. It’s called the forgetting curve.

Here is a graphic explaining the forgetting curve generally:

Attribution: Productive.Fish, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

We start knowing something and then slowly forget it. Research found that what is remembered drops sharply and is barely remembered after a week or two. However, if the material is reviewed, the drop is slower. It’s impossible to know something forever without periodically reviewing it. Fortunately, there are many ways to do periodic review. One of the best is retrieval practice. What is important is that the information is reviewed every once in a while. In fact, it should be reviewed after some forgetting has occurred. Research has shown that the struggle to remember after some forgetting strengthens the long-term memory.

Learn more about retrieval practice, read: Cult of Pedagogy Retrieval Practice: The Most Powerful Learning Strategy You’re Not Using

Optional Supplement:

• Infographic on Retrieval Practice by The Learning Scientists
• Infographic on Spaced Practice by The Learning Scientists

Growth Mindset

Read: What We Know About Growth Mindset from Scientific Research by Carissa Romero