The Science of Remembering

What is the forgetting curve?

• This curve shows how information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain it.

• This curve shows how information is gained over time when there is no attempt to retain it.

• This curve shows how information retention improves over time when we attempt to retain it.

• This curve shows how remembering information happens.

After 19 minutes of learning something, what percentage do we tend to forget? (Especially if the information is not connected to prior learning)

• 70%

• 55%

• 40%

• 35%

More than half of memory loss occurs within (How much time)

• 20 Minutes

• 1 hour

• 2 hours

• 8 hours

Most of the material that will be forgotten will be done so in the first ____ hours.

• 2

• 24

• 48

• 8

Hermann Ebbinghaus tracked the forgetting of 2300 words over how much total time?

• 7 days

• 21 days

• 14 days

• 31 days

What is a good strategy to study using the information from the forgetting curve?

• Space our testing

• Re-read our notes

• Re-write our notes

• Test ourself once and move on.

How should we space our testing?

• Immediately --> Later that day --> The next day -->

  Two days later-->

  Double the length until you fail to recall.

• Immediately --> = The next day -->

  Two days later-->

  A month later

• Later that day --> The next day -->

  Two days later-->

  Double the length until you fail to recall.

• Immediately --> Later that day -->

  Two days later-->

  Double the length until you fail to recall.

When we first learn something what should we do so that we don't forget it?

• Read the information over and over.

• Test ourself until we don't forget

• Make a flash card and try to memorize it.

• Connect the information to something we understand by asking questions. (give it meaning)

What happens if we test yourself many times in a short amount of time if we continue to get the answer correct?

• It will not help because we don't understand the information

• It will help us because we keep getting it correct

• It will not help. We must wait some time and see if we forget to see if we remember it.

• It will help us because it reinforces the idea every time we do it.

If you fail to recall the information what should you do before re-testing yourself?

• Read up/research the material until you understand it well enough to teach it to a friend.

• Make flash cards and read through them all

• Re read through previous information and re-test regardless of if we understand it.

• Test yourself over and over after failing to recall the information.