Retrieval Practice
Retrieval practice is a study strategy that focuses on the last step of learning: being able to recall a memory when you want it. If you've ever done a practice quiz or used flash cards, you've used retrieval practice. Retrieval practice has been shown to increase how long you retain a memory and can outperform strategies like rereading. Getting quick feedback on what you remember easily and what you don't also tells you how to spend the rest of your study time.
There are many ways to make your own recall practice exercises on a computer.
- You can use Google Forms to make a quiz. If you make multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank style short answer questions, Google Forms can tell you what you got right or wrong. You can also use this to practice writing essays, and use the "feedback" feature to list some elements that ought to be in the essay.
- Many online trivia websites will allow users to make a quiz. (Not that we're talking about trivial things.) Different sites will have different rules and tools, but many of them will include formats for identifying images or specific parts of images (like a map or chart). You may even be able to find some existing quizzes relevant to what you want to learn. Sporcle is one example.
- There are a number of "freemium" quiz-creation tools like Kahoot! and Quizziz which make colorful, interactive online quizzes. These tools tend to mix multiple-choice questions with open questions. They're designed for classroom use, but you could use them for solo learning by making a quiz on one device and then taking it in a different browser or on your phone. (Most of these tools are very mobile-friendly.) You will find some features are only available for pay.
These examples can all be made available to other people, so you could imagine using them in a study group, class or work department.