Retrieval Practice

Retrieval practice is a learning strategy that focuses on getting information out of students’ heads, rather than getting it in. It is the idea that students need to practice recalling and using the information that they learn in class on a regular basis, and not just when it’s time for a test or quiz. In other words, it requires teachers to create low-stakes opportunities for students to remember what they learned in previous lessons and units as a learning tool rather than an assessment tool. Research shows that retrieval practice is a very powerful learning strategy, and the good news is that most teachers are probably already using it. The Retrieval Practice website was created by a cognitive research scientist to be “a hub of research, resources, and teaching strategies based on the science of learning.”