Recovering information
Recovering information involves the ability to recall and remember previously learned facts, concepts, or experiences. When you need to be able to recover information, for example, during an exam or an interview, you can apply learning strategies to strengthen your memory recall and improve your knowledge retention.
Explore some strategies below to help you recover information.
Retrieval practice
This isn’t a new idea, but recognising the power of recall is important for learning. Repeated practice using tools like flash cards or worksheets regularly helps by prompting you to actively recall the information from your memory. It highlights gaps in your memory and prompts you to return to challenging concepts to consolidate your understanding.
Some concepts an individual can remember easily, and some they won’t. Create your own flashcards or quiz sets and practice regularly. Don’t just use definitions and terminology for your tests, focus on key ideas and examples that illustrate concepts.
Click on the plus (+) icons below to explore this strategy to revise your learning:
Activity overview
In this interactive image there are 3 steps displayed in a circle with arrows between each step, demonstrating that it is a cyclical process. Each step has a hotspot that uncovers the following information when selected:
- Test yourself: Try using flash cards or questions to test your understanding.
- Check accuracy: Once you have recalled as much as you can, return to the content to check the accuracy of your memory.
- Identify gaps: Identify any concepts you didn't remember and then test yourself again!
Note
Use the retrieval strategy as you learn by reading new concepts, covering the information, and checking how much you remember.
Calibration
Calibration is getting objective feedback on what you know and don’t know. Rather than assuming we have learnt something it's best to confirm our understanding though an objective tool (such as a practice test).
When completing practice questions/tests:
- Don't skip a question or topic, because you think you know it already.
- Check your answers and spend time reviewing the topic and reason for the correct response (not just what the correct response is).
- Focus on learning topics you are less familiar with.
Caution
Testing yourself can be confronting when you are in the early stages of learning something. Keep going! Practice and each time you will improve!