Impact Journal Logo

Remembering more: A Year 11 case study implementing low-stakes retrieval practice

Written by: Rachael Speed
7 min read
RACHAEL SPEED, LEAD PRACTITIONER, ASH MANOR SCHOOL, UK As teachers, we are acutely aware of the need to ensure that students have the ability to remember information taught in the long term. Furthermore, the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (2023) highlights the need for teaching to be designed to achieve long-term retention. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) posits that implementation of cognitive science principles can have a positive impact on this goal (Perry et al., 2021). One principle that is now widely implemented in classrooms is retrieval practice – recalling information from memory with little prompting (Perry et al., 2021). However, evidence for the application of cognitive science principles in the classroom is limited, and a consideration of how principles are used in lessons is critical to ensuring success (Perry et al., 2021). In addition, the existing literature about retrieval practice lacks evidence from UK classroom-based studies, especially using cor

Join us or sign in now to view the rest of this page

You're viewing this site as a guest, which only allows you to view a limited amount of content.

To view this page and get access to all our resources, join the Chartered College of Teaching (it's free for trainee teachers and half price for NQTs) or log in if you're already a member.

    • Bjork EL and Bjork RA (2011) Making things hard on yourself, but in a good way: Creating desirable difficulties to enhance learning. In: Gernsbacher MA, Pew RW, Hough LM et al. (eds) Psychology and the Real World: Essays Illustrating Fundamental Contributions to Society. New York: Worth Publishers, pp. 56–64.
    • Carpenter SK (2009) Cue strength as a moderator of the testing effect: The benefits of elaborative retrieval. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory & Cognition 35: 1563–1569.
    • Gao C, Rosburg T, Hou M et al. (2016) The role of retrieval mode and retrieval orientation in retrieval practice: Insights from comparing recognition memory testing formats and restudying. Cognitive Affective & Behavioural Neuroscience 16: 977–990.
    • Gurung RAR and Burns K (2018) Putting evidence-based claims to the test: A multi-site classroom study of retrieval practice and spaced practice. Applied Cognitive Psychology 33(5): 732–743.
    • Karpicke JD (2017) Retrieval-based learning: A decade of progress. In: Wixted JT (ed) Cognitive Psychology of Memory: A Comprehensive Reference. Oxford: Academic Press, pp. 487–514.
    • Karpicke JD and Grimaldi PJ (2012) Retrieval-based learning: A perspective for enhancing meaningful learning. Educational Psychology Review 24: 401–418.
    • Karpicke JD, Lehman M and Aue WR (2014) Retrieval-based learning: An episodic context account. In: Ross BH (ed) Psychology of Learning and Motivation, vol. 61. San Diego: Elsevier Academic Press, pp. 237–284.
    • Kolers PA and Roediger III HL (1984) Procedures of mind. Journal of Verbal Learning & Verbal Behavior 23(4): 425–449.
    • McDaniel MA, Anderson JL, Derbish MH et al. (2007) Testing the testing effect in the classroom. European Journal of Cognitive Psychology 19(4–5): 494–513.
    • McDermott KB, Agarwal PK, D’Antonio L et al. (2014) Both multiple-choice and short-answer quizzes enhance later exam performance in middle and high school classes. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied 20(1): 3–21.
    • Morris CD, Bransford JD and Franks JJ (1977) Level of processing versus transfer appropriate processing. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behaviour 16(5): 519–533.
    • Ofsted (2023) Education inspection framework. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-inspection-framework/education-inspection-framework-for-september-2023 (accessed 19 June 2024).
    • Perry T, Lea R, Rübner Jørgensen C et al. (2021) Cognitive science approaches in the classroom: A review of the evidence. Education Endowment Foundation. Available at: https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/production/documents/guidance/Cognitive_science_approaches_in_the_classroom_-_A_review_of_the_evidence.pdf?v=1718788131 (accessed 19 June 2024).
    • Roediger HL and Karpicke JD (2006) Test-enhanced learning: Taking memory tests improves long-term retention. Psychological Science 17(3): 249–255.
    • Roediger HL, Agarwal PK, McDaniel MA et al. (2011) Test-enhanced learning in the classroom: Long-term improvements from quizzing. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied 17(4): 382–395.

    Available Courses

    Certificate in evidence informed Practice Hexagonal Logo
    Certificate in evidence-informed practice
    0 0 votes
    Please Rate this content
    Subscribe
    Notify of
    0 Comments
    Oldest
    Newest Most Voted
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments

    From this issue

    Impact Articles on the same themes