Retrieval Strength and Storage Strength - by Dylan Kane

There are lots of things we want students to remember. 8 x 4 = 32. The capital of Virginia is Richmond. Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. Water boils at 100° Celsius and 212° Fahrenheit. There’s more to school learning than remembering facts, but remembering facts is important and I’d like to help students do it as efficiently as possible. Cognitive scientists divide the strength of memory into two parts. Retrieval strength refers to how easily an idea can be recalled. You probably have high retrieval strength for your phone number and what you ate for dinner last night. If I ask you, you can tell me without any trouble. Storage strength refers to how durable a memory is for the long term. You probably have high storage strength for your phone number — if you don't give anyone your phone number for the next month, you would still remember it. But you probably have low storage strength for what you ate for dinner last night. While you remember it now, you likely won't remember it

There are lots of things we want students to remember. 8 x 4 = 32. The capital of Virginia is Richmond. Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. Water boils at 100° Celsius and 212° Fahrenheit. There’s more to school learning than remembering facts, but remembering facts is important and I’d like to help students do it as efficiently as possible. Cognitive scientists divide the strength of memory into two parts. Retrieval strength refers to how easily an idea can be recalled. You probably have high retrieval strength for your phone number and what you ate for dinner last night. If I ask you, yo