Active Recall and Spaced Repetition

Recall utilizes two scientifically proven learning techniques, Active Recall and Spaced Repetition, to enhance information retention for the content that you save to your knowledge base. This system prompts you with questions generated from your saved content, following a schedule that optimizes memory strength over time.

What is Active Recall?

Active Recall is a learning method where you try to remember information without referencing the material. This technique has been shown to significantly enhance long-term retention compared to passive reading. Actively retrieving information helps strengthen neural pathways, thereby improving recall and promoting the transfer of knowledge to long-term memory.

What is Spaced Repetition?

Spaced Repetition involves reviewing information at progressively increasing intervals. This method leverages the psychological spacing effect, where revisiting material just before it is forgotten enhances memory retention. By strategically timing reviews, Spaced Repetition helps cement information in memory.

How Recall Implements These Techniques

Step 1: Generate Questions from Knowledge Cards

Navigate to a knowledge card that you want to generate questions for and add to your Recall review. Click the card menu icon, and select Generate Questions as shown in the image below.

This will generate questions based on the knowledge card and then add the questions to your Recall Review Queue.

Once the questions have been generated, you will land on the Manage Questions page. Here you can generate additional questions, add your own custom questions and edit or delete existing questions.

Before going to the next step, you can create questions for other knowledge cards that you want to be included in your Recall Review Queue.

Step 2: Conduct the Review

You can start your Recall Review by clicking the Spaced repetition button in the bottom-left of the screen. The number on the button represents the number of questions that are ready to be reviewed.

Clicking the button will take you to the Recall Review page where you can start answering questions. The green bar at the top of the screen shows your progress through the review session. If you are not sure of the answer to a question, you can click Peak to see the knowledge card that the question is based on. For all the questions that you get wrong, you will get the chance to try them again at the end of the session.

The Review Schedule

An important aspect of a spaced repetition system is the review schedule that determines the frequency that you are presented with questions. Questions are scheduled for review at specific intervals to reinforce the learning curve and solidify information in long-term memory.

In Recall, the review schedule is as follows:

• Immediate Review: When the questions are generated they are scheduled for review immediately.
• Subsequent Reviews: Provided you get the questions correct, the subsequent reviews are scheduled for 7 days, 30 days, and 6 months post each correct response.
• Incorrect Responses: Questions answered incorrectly are rescheduled for review the next day regardless of where they currently are in the review schedule.

Each review phase is designed to reinforce the learning curve and aid in solidifying information in long-term memory.