Reflection and retrieval practice are two evidence-based active learning strategies that help students strengthen understanding, improve retention, and develop metacognitive skills.
Both strategies encourage students to actively engage with what they have learned rather than passively reviewing information.
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Reflection
Reflection involves asking students to think critically about their learning experiences, understanding, and progress. Reflective activities encourage students to make connections between new knowledge, prior experiences, and future applications.
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Reflection helps students:
Deepen their understanding of course concepts.
Identify areas of strength and improvement.
Make connections between theory and practice.
Develop self-awareness as learners.
Take ownership of their learning process.
Examples of reflection activities include:
Reflective journals or learning logs.
End-of-class reflection prompts.
Discussion posts that connect course concepts to personal experiences.
Self-assessments.
"Muddiest Point" activities where students identify concepts they find confusing.
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Retrieval Practice
Retrieval practice is the process of recalling information from memory rather than simply reviewing it. Research has shown that the act of retrieving information strengthens learning and improves long-term retention.
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Retrieval practice helps students:
Strengthen memory and recall.
Identify gaps in understanding.
Improve long-term retention of course content.
Build confidence in their knowledge.
Prepare more effectively for assessments.
Examples of retrieval practice include:
Low-stakes quizzes.
Practice tests.
Polling questions.
Exit tickets.
Short writing prompts that ask students to recall key concepts from memory.
Brain dumps, where students write everything they remember about a topic before reviewing materials.
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Using Reflection and Retrieval Together
Reflection and retrieval practice are particularly powerful when combined. Retrieval helps students identify what they know, while reflection encourages them to think about how they learned it and what they still need to improve.
For example, after a quiz or learning activity, students might reflect on:
What concepts they understood well.
What challenged them.
What strategies helped them learn.
What they will do differently moving forward.
Reflection and retrieval practice are simple yet powerful active learning strategies that encourage students to think about their learning and strengthen their ability to recall information. Incorporating these practices regularly can improve engagement, retention, and overall learning outcomes.
