Retrieval & Learning

     The ideas in the article, Retrieval Practice Produces More Learning than Elaborative Studying with Concept Mapping, by Karpicke and Blunt were in many ways new to me. I have never really given retrieval practice or elaborative studying with concept mapping much conscious thought as learning strategies, but as I read the article I realized that I use these learning methods more than I know. Like many people before reading this article and seeing the results of the research, I too thought of retrieval as more of a testing strategy. I often use retrieval practice in my studying, but I never realized how much it was actively contributing to my learning. For the most part I have thought I was just using it as a way to see what information I knew well and what I need to review further. As I gave this method more thought I came to the realization that perhaps retrieval practices have been so beneficial to me, because they push me to know the information at a higher level of knowledge than making concept maps or taking notes and reviewing them. Retrieval practice pushes me to truly know the material, instead of just looking at the information and writing it down without being completely aware of what I am working on or trying to learn.
      As far a the study itself went I thought that it was very thorough at convincing. I thought that the design of the experiments, specifically the second experiment gave the study significant external validity or generalizablity. The fact that retrieval practice was shown to be a more effective learning method than concept mapping for both types of science materials, as well as both type of testing was impressive. As I was reviewing the article, I found it specifically interesting that during the second experiment students initially had more learning with concept mapping than with retrieval practice, but students retained more one week later after using retrieval practice. To me the fact that students retained more information a week later even though they didn't retain as much information right away showed the validity of retrieval practice as a strong learning method even more.
     I found this article and topic interesting. Although we utilize learning methods daily, I don't think we really give them much thought. I also think that we often getting in studying ruts and don't necessarily try and find the most effective studying methods. It will be interesting to see how this study affects active learning practices and the role of retrieval in learning for us as student,s as well as students and instructors across the board.