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How Rocket Recall Uses the Science of Memory and Learning
Research on Memory and Cognitive Science
Spacing Effect:
Definition: Learning is more effective when spread out over time.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
Dual Coding Theory
Definition: Learning is enhanced when information is presented using both visual and verbal formats
How Rocket Recall Uses It:
Interleaved Learning
Definition: Mixing different topics or question types to improve learning.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
Retrieval Practice (Testing Effect):
Definition: Memory improves by recalling information rather than reviewing it passively.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
Forced Recall:
Definition: A specific form of retrieval practice where students retrieve information without external cues or prompts. This approach strengthens memory by engaging the brain in unaided recall, which is more effective than passive recognition or cued retrieval.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
Generation Effect:
Definition: Individuals remember information better when they actively generate or create it themselves, rather than simply reading or passively consuming it. This active engagement strengthens memory and understanding by requiring deeper cognitive processing.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
Feedback Loops:
Definition: Providing feedback to reinforce correct answers or to correct errors.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
Von Restorff Effect (Isolation Effect):
Definition: Unique or surprising information is more likely to be remembered.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
Deliberate Practice
Definition: Focused practice designed to improve specific skills through targeted feedback.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
Cognitive Load Theory:
Definition: Managing working memory to prevent overload.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
Effortful Processing
Definition: Engaging deeply with material through active tasks enhances retention.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
Behavioral and Engagement Research
Growth Mindset
Definition: Belief that effort and practice lead to improvement.
How Rocket Recall uses it: Reinforces a growth mindset by showing progress and celebrating persistence. Uses terms like “Not Yet” etc. indicating that they will get it later. Also, the app keeps them practicing it until they do get it, fulfilling that promise.
Research:
More Research Coming Soon to this Page
Research on Memory and Cognitive Science
How Rocket Recall Uses the Science of Memory and Learning
Research on Memory and Cognitive Science
Spacing Effect:
Definition: Learning is more effective when spread out over time.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
- Implements spacing algorithms to ensure reviews are spaced to optimize retention.
- Without reinforcement, people forget up to 75% of learned material within 24 hours, but spacing reviews can increase retention to over 80% after one month. [Source: Ebbinghaus, H., 1885, Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology]
- Students who spaced their study sessions improved their retention by 51% (74% vs. 49%) after one month compared to those who crammed their study material. [Cepeda et al., 2006, Spacing Effects in Learning: A Temporal Ridgeline of Optimal Retention]
- Over six months, students using spaced practice retained 82% more information (91% vs. 50%) compared to those using massed practice (cramming). [Bahrick et al., 1993, Maintenance of Foreign Language Vocabulary and the Spacing Effect]
Dual Coding Theory
Definition: Learning is enhanced when information is presented using both visual and verbal formats
How Rocket Recall Uses It:
- Rocket Recall incorporates meaningful imagery alongside text in answers to questions.
- Students exposed to both visual and verbal information exhibited a 325% improvement in recall after one week compared to those receiving only verbal information (85% vs. 20%). [Mayer, R. E., & Anderson, R. B. (1991). Animations need narrations: An experimental test of a dual-coding hypothesis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 83(4), 484-490.]
Interleaved Learning
Definition: Mixing different topics or question types to improve learning.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
- Study session include an optimized mix of questions from all completed and current chapters.
- Students using interleaved practice improved test performance by 43% (77% vs. 54%) after one week compared to blocked practice. [Rohrer, D., & Taylor, K. (2007). The shuffling of mathematics problems improves learning. Instructional Science, 35(6), 481-498]
Retrieval Practice (Testing Effect):
Definition: Memory improves by recalling information rather than reviewing it passively.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
- Requires students to actively retrieve answers for each question, strengthening memory retention through engagement.
- Students who engaged in retrieval practice retained 50% more information after one week compared to passive review (75% vs 50%). [Roediger & Butler, 2011, Testing Improves Long-Term Retention]
Forced Recall:
Definition: A specific form of retrieval practice where students retrieve information without external cues or prompts. This approach strengthens memory by engaging the brain in unaided recall, which is more effective than passive recognition or cued retrieval.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
- Requires students to recall answers using only the question prompt, without recognition-based aids or hints. This forces deeper engagement with retrieval mechanisms, maximizing retention.
- Students using forced recall methods (free recall) demonstrated up to 70% retention after one week, compared to 40% retention for cued recall. [Karpicke & Blunt, 2011, Retrieval Practice Produces More Learning than Elaborative Studying with Concept Mapping].
- Combining Karpicke's results with Roediger’s study above, this suggests that forced recall memory retrievability is 2.6 times greater (improved 160%) over one week with forced recall as compared with passive recall.
Generation Effect:
Definition: Individuals remember information better when they actively generate or create it themselves, rather than simply reading or passively consuming it. This active engagement strengthens memory and understanding by requiring deeper cognitive processing.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
- Incorporates type-in questions that require students to actively generate their answers (instead of selecting from multiple-choice options). By forcing learners to articulate their own responses, the app ensures deeper engagement with the material, reinforcing memory and comprehension.
- Students who generated their own answers improved their retention by 63.6% (72% vs. 44%) after 48 hours compared to those who passively read the same material. [Slamecka & Graf, 1978, The Generation Effect: Delineation of a Phenomenon]
Feedback Loops:
Definition: Providing feedback to reinforce correct answers or to correct errors.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
- Offers immediate feedback after each answer attempt to guide learning.
- Immediate feedback improves student learning and retention, with students scoring 20% higher on assessments compared to delayed feedback. [Source: Shute, V. J., 2008, Focus on Formative Feedback]
Von Restorff Effect (Isolation Effect):
Definition: Unique or surprising information is more likely to be remembered.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
- Includes striking imagery to enhance memory. At times this involves creating a striking imaginary scenario to connect ideas, which allows for layers of reflection to deepen understanding.
- Unique or distinct items are remembered 30% more effectively than non-distinct items due to their increased salience. [Source: Hunt, R. R., 1995, The Subtlety of Distinctiveness: What von Restorff Really Did]
Deliberate Practice
Definition: Focused practice designed to improve specific skills through targeted feedback.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
- Targets weak areas with repeated attempts and detailed feedback.
- Deliberate practice has been shown to improve performance by 200% (60% vs. 20%) over extended periods when compared to general repetition without targeted feedback. [Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Römer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review.]
Cognitive Load Theory:
Definition: Managing working memory to prevent overload.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
- Designs sessions to focus on just enough material to optimize memory without overwhelming and dynamically adjusts as needed
Effortful Processing
Definition: Engaging deeply with material through active tasks enhances retention.
How Rocket Recall uses it:
- Forced recall and type-in tasks require sustained cognitive effort.
- Learners who engaged in effortful processing through active recall tasks showed a 39% increase in retention after one week compared to passive review (74% vs. 35%). [Source: Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27.]
Behavioral and Engagement Research
Growth Mindset
Definition: Belief that effort and practice lead to improvement.
How Rocket Recall uses it: Reinforces a growth mindset by showing progress and celebrating persistence. Uses terms like “Not Yet” etc. indicating that they will get it later. Also, the app keeps them practicing it until they do get it, fulfilling that promise.
Research:
- Students with a growth mindset demonstrated 40% higher academic achievement (70% vs. 50%) over a semester compared to those with a fixed mindset. [Source: Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.]
- Students taught with growth mindset principles exhibited 40% greater confidence in their ability to overcome academic challenges compared to those with a fixed mindset. [Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Ballantine Books.]
More Research Coming Soon to this Page
Research on Memory and Cognitive Science
- Desirable Difficulties
- Interleaved Learning
- Elaborative Rehearsal
- Zeigarnik Effect
- Chunking
- Encoding Specificity
- Mastery-Based Learning
- Reflective Learning
- Gamification
- Metacognition
- Microlearning
- Distributed Practice
- Competency-Based Education
- Active Learning
- Feedback-Driven Metacognition
- Adaptive Learning
- Self-Directed Learning
- Personalized Learning Paths