Event Title
Using Technology and the Spacing Effect to Improve Knowledge Retention
Location
Moakley 217
Start Time
15-8-2012 1:50 PM
End Time
15-8-2012 2:30 PM
Description
Qstream is a platform designed to allow learners and teachers to harness the educational benefits of spaced education. Spaced education is a novel method of online education developed and rigorously investigated by Dr. B. Price Kerfoot (Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School). It is based upon two core psychology research findings: the spacing effect and the testing effect. In more than 10 randomized trials completed to date, spaced education has been found to:
- Improve knowledge acquisition,
- Increase long-term knowledge retention (out to 2 years),
- Change behavior,
- Boost learners’ abilities to accurately self-assess their knowledge.
In addition, spaced education is extremely well-accepted by learners. The spacing effect refers to the psychology research finding that information which is presented and repeated over spaced intervals is learned and retained more effectively, in comparison to traditional bolus (‘binge-and-purge’) methods of education. The testing effect refers to the research finding that the long-term retention of information is significantly improved by testing learners on this information. Testing is not merely a means to measure a learner’s level of knowledge, but rather causes knowledge to be stored more effectively in long-term memory.
Our nursing students failed high stakes pharmacology calculation quizzes due to their inability to retain information they had learned. This led to the development of a Mastering Pharmacology Calculations program using the Qstream platform. Students that have enrolled and used the program are now successful in testing out of the pharmacology calculation quizzes in their freshmen year.
Using Technology and the Spacing Effect to Improve Knowledge Retention
Moakley 217
Qstream is a platform designed to allow learners and teachers to harness the educational benefits of spaced education. Spaced education is a novel method of online education developed and rigorously investigated by Dr. B. Price Kerfoot (Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School). It is based upon two core psychology research findings: the spacing effect and the testing effect. In more than 10 randomized trials completed to date, spaced education has been found to:
- Improve knowledge acquisition,
- Increase long-term knowledge retention (out to 2 years),
- Change behavior,
- Boost learners’ abilities to accurately self-assess their knowledge.
In addition, spaced education is extremely well-accepted by learners. The spacing effect refers to the psychology research finding that information which is presented and repeated over spaced intervals is learned and retained more effectively, in comparison to traditional bolus (‘binge-and-purge’) methods of education. The testing effect refers to the research finding that the long-term retention of information is significantly improved by testing learners on this information. Testing is not merely a means to measure a learner’s level of knowledge, but rather causes knowledge to be stored more effectively in long-term memory.
Our nursing students failed high stakes pharmacology calculation quizzes due to their inability to retain information they had learned. This led to the development of a Mastering Pharmacology Calculations program using the Qstream platform. Students that have enrolled and used the program are now successful in testing out of the pharmacology calculation quizzes in their freshmen year.