Which strategy is useful for improving student retention of material?

Incorporating hands-on activities and retrieval practice is a highly effective strategy for improving student retention of material. Hands-on activities engage students in active learning, allowing them to manipulate materials or participate in experiments, which creates a deeper connection to the content. This engagement increases motivation and interest, making the learning experience more memorable.

Retrieval practice, on the other hand, involves recalling information from memory, which strengthens neural pathways associated with that information. This method not only reinforces what has been learned but also helps to identify gaps in knowledge, allowing students to focus on areas that need improvement. Research has consistently shown that actively retrieving information enhances long-term retention much more effectively than passive review methods.

Utilizing both hands-on activities and retrieval practice creates a dynamic learning environment where students are less likely to forget the material, as they engage with it in multiple, meaningful ways.