What Is Spaced Repetition in Education?

What Is Spaced Repetition?

Spaced repetition is a simple but powerful strategy to help students move information from short-term recall into long-term memory. The method involves reviewing lessons at repeated, increasing intervals over time. As a student's mastery grows, the time between these review sessions gets longer, reinforcing the material right when they might be about to forget it. This helps make learning truly stick and fills in knowledge gaps until the information is fully understood.

Spaced Repetition Strategies and Activities

Spaced repetition involves specific strategies and activities designed to review information over increasing time intervals. This method is structured to work against the natural process of forgetting, helping information move from short-term to long-term memory.

These approaches typically involve breaking down material into smaller parts and creating a schedule for review. The timing of these reviews is often adjusted based on how well a student recalls the information during each session.

Here are some spaced repetition strategies and activities:

• Break Down Material: Dividing large topics into smaller, more focused sections
• Create a Review Schedule: Planning to revisit material at set intervals, such as after one day, three days, and then one week
• Adjust Intervals Based on Performance: Shortening the time between reviews for difficult concepts and lengthening it for easier ones
• Practice Active Recall: Using methods like self-quizzing or flashcards to retrieve information from memory instead of just rereading it
• Teach to Others: Explaining a concept to another person to solidify understanding and identify knowledge gaps
• Create Summaries: Writing brief summaries or checklists of key points after a study session for use in future reviews
• Integrate Old and New Material: Connecting new information with previously learned topics to build relationships between concepts
• Use Visual Aids: Incorporating drawings, charts, or photos to create mental images that support memory
• Track Progress: Using charts or data sheets to monitor performance over time
• Vary Review Formats: Testing knowledge with different methods, such as practice tests, apps, or group discussions

Spaced Repetition Benefits

Spaced repetition is a learning technique with specific outcomes for memory and study habits. Research suggests it affects how information is retained over the long term by scheduling reviews at increasing intervals. This method is structured to work with the brain's natural memory processes.

The primary effect of this method is its influence on long-term memory, making it a point of interest for retaining factual information and vocabulary. Its structured nature requires advance planning and consistency, and its effectiveness is often compared to massed practice, or cramming.

Here are some of the reported effects of using spaced repetition:

• Long-term retention: Information is reviewed at intervals designed to move it into long-term memory.
• Neural pathway reinforcement: Each time information is recalled, the neural pathways for that memory are activated.
• Flexible study sessions: The method can be incorporated into short, daily practice periods.
• Fact-based learning: It is often applied to memorizing discrete pieces of information, such as vocabulary or rules.
• Alternative to cramming: Regular, spaced reviews reduce the need for intensive, last-minute study sessions.
• Adaptive scheduling: Digital tools can adjust review intervals based on a learner's performance, focusing on more challenging material.
• Independent study support: Systems and apps allow students to manage their own review schedules.
• Research-backed principles: The technique is based on cognitive science research, including studies on the spacing effect and forgetting curve.
• Visual learning compatibility: The use of flashcards with images can align with the learning preferences of visual learners.
• Easier information retrieval: With repeated recall, accessing the stored information becomes more fluid over time.

Spaced Repetition Examples

Spaced repetition can be applied through various classroom activities and independent study habits. These methods are structured to revisit information at planned intervals, which supports the learning process over time.

While this approach is associated with improved long-term retention, its implementation requires careful planning from educators. Creating personalized review schedules for an entire class can be time-consuming, and students need clear guidance to use the strategies effectively on their own.

Here are some examples of spaced repetition activities:

• Flashcards: Students create and review flashcards using active recall, often organizing them with systems like the Leitner method to review more difficult concepts more frequently.
• Low-stakes quizzes: These are short, regular quizzes with no grading consequences, used to check recall and reinforce learning from previous lessons.
• Reinforcement Write-ups: Students are assigned creative writing tasks that require them to use a specific number of vocabulary words and grammar points from past units.
• Interleaving: This involves mixing two or more related topics within a single assignment or practice set to help students learn to differentiate between problem-solving strategies.
• Dedicated Homework Review: A portion of every homework assignment is set aside to cover topics from previous weeks, ensuring consistent review of older material.

Spaced Repetition Best Practices

Spaced repetition best practices are evidence-based teaching strategies that focus on how and when to review material. These methods are designed to work with the brain's natural memory processes to support long-term retention of information.

Implementing these practices involves planning for regular, short review sessions and systematically increasing the time between them. This often includes mixing previously learned material with new content and using activities that require students to actively recall information.

Here are some examples of spaced repetition best practices:

• Low-stakes quizzes: Using short, frequent quizzes that do not affect grades to reinforce learning without causing student anxiety.
• Interleaving: Combining multiple topics within a single practice session to help students learn to distinguish between different concepts and problem-solving methods.
• Gradually increasing intervals: Planning review sessions at progressively longer intervals after the initial lesson to strengthen memory over time.
• The Leitner System: Organizing flashcards into groups based on mastery, which dictates the frequency of review for each card.
• Retrieval practice: Employing activities that prompt students to recall information from memory, such as through self-quizzing or class discussions.

Teach with TeachShare

Spaced repetition is a powerful, evidence-based method for building long-term knowledge and making learning stick. It helps students retain information more effectively by reviewing material at strategic, increasing intervals. Start creating resources with TeachShare now to easily apply these principles in your classroom.