What is Active Recall?
Active recall is a study technique that goes beyond passive reading and memorization. Instead of merely reviewing notes or textbooks, or passive recall, simply remembering past material, active recall involves proactively retrieving information from memory while studying, which leads to more engaging and productive review sessions. This is often seen in the “testing effect”, a key feature of active recall. When reviewing flashcards or doing practice problems, you are forced to go through the content, think of past concepts, and apply them. Imagine it as a mental workout—your brain flexes its muscles by recalling facts, concepts, and formulas during the study process. This helps strengthen neural connections and memory retention. This is unlike simple passive recall, where although you may recognize it due to some external cue, such as reading about a concept in your notes, your brain does not work to think about the concepts as it does in active recall.
The I Aced Calculus app offers features aligned with active recall. Our flashcards, practice tests, and example problems with video solutions empower you to engage actively with calculus concepts, building long-term retention and a holistic understanding of concepts.
Applying Active Recall While Studying
Now, let’s explore practical ways to incorporate active recall into your study routine:
- Flashcards: Create digital or physical flashcards with questions on one side and answers on the other. As opposed to reading notes from a textbook, flashcarding is a great way to not only be introduced to new material but also build a thorough understanding. Each flashcard can be thought of as a mini-test, thus introducing active recall.
- Practice Problems: Solve practice questions related to the topic. Practice problems are an invaluable tool in learning a concept. They build familiarity with the material as well as engaging skills of critical thinking and content synthesis.
- Spaced Repetition: Regularly revisit your study material at spaced intervals. This technique strengthens memory through a gradual reinforcement process. The I Aced Calculus app offers the option to review flashcards using spaced repetition- to learn more about that, check out [[this article]].
- Teach Someone Else: Explaining concepts to a friend or family member, or even an imaginary student, can be a great way to test your own understanding of the subject. Additionally, it forces you to organize your thoughts so they can be easily communicated and understood.
Advantages of Active Recall
Why should you embrace active recall? Let’s explore the benefits:
- Deeper Understanding: Active recall forces you to engage deeply with the material. When you actively retrieve information, you’re not just skimming the surface—you’re being exposed to applications of the content and constantly synthesizing content. This is seen through the “testing effect”, where when doing practice problems, you are exposed to
- Long-Term Retention: Unlike cramming, which leads to short-lived knowledge, active recall helps information stick around. It’s like planting seeds in your long-term memory garden. Even one session of studying using active recall can develop a valuable, longstanding understanding of concepts. This is due to the “testing effect,” which, due to its focus on reinforcement of core concepts and strengthening neural connections. That building of long term memory ultimately contributes to a positive feedback loop, where the more you use your long term memory, the more effective it will become, leading to increased efficiency of active recall.
- Efficiency: Time is precious. Active recall is efficient because it focuses on what truly matters. As active recall requires one to spend less time re-reading and more time actively practicing. Since tests and quizzes require use of active recall, practicing using active recall is a productive way to prepare for assessments. This is unlike the rote and often redundant memorization of passive recall.
As you embark on your calculus journey, remember that the I Aced Calculus app is your trusty companion. Explore its features, and let active recall propel your learning forward!
