Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning

by James M. Lang

SMALL TEACHING QUICK TIPS: RETRIEVING Memory retrieval works especially well in brief classroom interventions. You can find room for retrieval in almost any class period or learning session, even if it takes only a minute. But my favorite opportunities for retrieval appear in the opening and closing moments of class, or in the form of regular quizzes or writing exercises. Give frequent, low-stakes quizzes (at least weekly) to help your students seal up foundational course content; favor short answers or problem solving whenever possible so that students must process or use what they are retrieving. Open class periods or online sessions by asking students to remind you of content covered in previous class sessions; allow students time to reflect for a few moments if you do so orally. Close class by asking students to write down the most important concept from that day and one question or confusion that still remains in their minds (i.e., the minute paper). Close class by having students take a short quiz or answer written questions about the day's material or solve a problem connected to the day's material. Use your syllabus to redirect students to previous course content through quizzes or oral questions and discussion.