Supporting Retrieval Practice
The following are various means of supporting retrieval practice. You can build some of these assets and interactive opportunities into your courses and you can share these ideas with students so that they have a means of building retrieval practice into their own study sessions.
Customizable Tools to Support Retrieval Practice
These tools have been designed to be customizable by faculty. Furthermore, they can be embedded directly into your LMS content. For further information on how to utilize these tools in your LMS see the Interactive-Components page.
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Accordion Builder
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Flip Cards |
Flip cards can be an effective tool for students to self-test their learning. Many students already use flip cards or flashcards in their studying, but may not know how to use them effectively for retrieval practice. Flip Cards ExemplarFlip Cards Component Selected.
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Flip Cards Builder
SettingsThe following setting(s) are available, please type 'y' for yes or 'n' for no in the following space provided:
Tips for Using Flip Cards
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Multiple Choice Questions |
Multiple choice questions are a quick and simple way to assess learning and provide prompt feedback to students. With multiple choice questions, students select one correct option from a list of possible answers. Interactive Quiz Components Selected.
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Question 1 text: What is retrieval practice? feedback: Retrieval practice involves using low-stakes quizzes and other recall activities to enhance and accelerate the retention of information. Question SettingsThe following setting(s) are available, please type response in the following space provided:
Quiz SettingsThe following setting(s) are available, please type response in the following space provided:
Tips for writing multiple choice questions:
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Reorder Activity Questions |
Reorder activities require students to recall a specific sequence of events. These types of questions can be useful for recalling timelines of past events or the order of a procedure. Reordering Questions ExemplarInteractive Quiz Components Selected.
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Question 1 text: In what order were the science of learning principles presented in this resource? feedback: The correct order is Spaced Practice, Interleaving, Concrete Examples, Elaboration, Dual Coding, Retrieval Practice. Quiz SettingsThe following setting(s) are available, please type response in the following space provided:
Tips for Using Reorder Activity Questions
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EdTech Tools to Support Retrieval Practice
There are many EdTech tools that can support you in embedding retrieval practice into the learning experiences you create. In addition, making students aware of some of the simpler tools below can also support them in building strategies to support more effective independent learning.
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For Helpful Tips and Information on how to Edit, Customize, Copy, Delete, please visit the Quick Start Guide page for this component by simply right clicking on the "Quick Start Guide" link text and then selecting open in a new tab or window.
Accordion Builder
Accordion ID | Accordion Name | Accordion Contents |
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1 |
Flip |
Students can create video responses to prompts and provide peer feedback using Flip (formerly Flipgrid). |
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Poll Everywhere |
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Socrative |
Use Socrative to develop multiple choice and short answer questions |
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Quizlet |
Quizlet is a learning tool that both teachers and students can use to support retrieval practice. It includes digital flash cards, matching games, practice electronic assessments, and even live quizzes. |
Using Retrieval Practice Outside the Digital Space
To support students in building their own tool box of study strategies, encourage students to engage in the some of the following activities as they are preparing for your assessments.
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For Helpful Tips and Information on how to Edit, Customize, Copy, Delete, please visit the Quick Start Guide page for this component by simply right clicking on the "Quick Start Guide" link text and then selecting open in a new tab or window.
Accordion Builder
Accordion ID | Accordion Name | Accordion Contents |
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1 |
Practice Tests |
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Homework |
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Memory Dump |
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Tips to Support Retrieval Practice
The following are some quick tips that you can use when you are building your learning experiences to embed retrieval practice directly into the learning.
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- Show feedback provided on multiple choice questions.
- Correct errors and add missing information as soon as possible to encode correct, complete information.
- Show tool being used for pre-learning vocabulary to promote early attempts at retrieval.
- Intersperse retrieval practice tools between sections of content within a topic.
- Include retrieval practice tools with different questions at the end of modules for students’ formative self-assessment.
- Change the order of questions and options each time the student sees the tool.
Checking Your Knowledge
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For Helpful Tips and Information on how to Edit, Customize, Copy, Delete, please visit the Quick Start Guide page for this component by simply right clicking on the "Quick Start Guide" link text and then selecting open in a new tab or window.
Question 1 text: An example of retrieval practice is:
hint: Which option encourages students to think deeply about the information?
Question Settings
The following setting(s) are available, please type response in the following space provided:
- Question 1 Answer:Type option number for the correct answer. 2
- Randomize the options when the page is loaded or refreshed by the learner? Type y for yes or n for no. Yes
Question 2 text: Which is the best guideline to follow when creating multiple choice options?
feedback: Remember that the aim of multiple choice questions is to support recall of information from long term memory. You want questions to challenge students at the level of the course learning outcomes.
Question Settings
The following setting(s) are available, please type response in the following space provided:
- Question 2 Answer:Type option number for the correct answer. 4
- Randomize the options when the page is loaded or refreshed by the learner? Type y for yes or n for no. Yes
Quiz Settings
The following setting(s) are available, please type response in the following space provided:
- Randomize the questions when the page is loaded or refreshed by the learner? Type y for yes or n for no. yes
- Insert Quiz Questions inside a Panel?Type y for yes or n for no. yes
- Make Panel Collapsible? Type y for yes or n for no. no
- Panel Title? Type the title of the panel.
References
Photography on this page used with permission from the Durham College Online Photo Database.
Dunlosky, J. (2013). Strengthening the Student Toolbox: Study Strategies to Boost Learning. American Educator., 37(3), 12–21. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1021069.pdf
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K.A., Marsh, E.J., Nathan, M.J., & Willingham, D.T. (2013). Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100612453266
InnerDrive. (n.d.) How to design the perfect multiple choice test. InnerDrive. https://blog.innerdrive.co.uk/perfect-multiple-choice-test
InnerDrive. (n.d.) The 6 benefits of retrieval practice - a visual guide. InnerDrive. https://blog.innerdrive.co.uk/6-benefits-of-retrieval-practice
Karpicke, J. D., & O'Day, G. M. (in press). Elements of effective learning. In M. J. Kahana & A. D. Wagner (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Human Memory, Volume II: Applications. Oxford University Press. https://learninglab.psych.purdue.edu/downloads/inpress_Karpicke_ODay_Oxford_Handbook.pdf
Pan, S.C. (n.d.). Retrieval practice (Practice testing). UC San Diego Psychology. https://psychology.ucsd.edu/undergraduate-program/undergraduate-resources/academic-writing-resources/effective-studying/retrieval-practice.html
Roediger III, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2010.09.003
The Learning Scientists. (n.d.). Retrieval practice. The Learning Scientists. https://www.learningscientists.org/retrieval-practice
Weinstein, Y., Madan, C.R. & Sumeracki, M.A. (2018). Teaching the science of learning. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-017-0087-y
Weinstein Y., & Smith, M. (2016, June 23). Learn how to study using... retrieval practice. The Learning Scientists. https://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2016/6/23-1