Research around memory suggests that if knowledge is studied once and not revisited or revised, it is not stored in the long-term memory. This means that after one lesson, or revising for one test, the knowledge will not be retained unless it is studied again. It won’t be recalled unless it is revisited frequently, which will embed it in the long term memory. In the long term this makes recall far easier.
As part of home learning, students should be revising what they have been taught recently but also content they were taught previously. Therefore as part of our strategy to embed learning over time we have started to develop knowledge organisers across year groups and curriculum areas. These will provide key content and knowledge allowing students to pre-learn and re-learn, a vital part of processing all the information required to be successful in their GCSE’s.
Retrieval practice using the look-cover- write-check technique, when done in regular small chunks, is one of the best ways students can learn relevant knowledge over time. Our students will be given a knowledge organiser for every subject. These will show the exact facts, dates, events, characters, concepts and precise definitions that we need them to remember for that topic. Securing this knowledge base will allow students to develop their skills of understanding, analysis and evaluation in lessons more effectively.
Additionally parents can support their son/daughter with this homework method by practice quizzing key facts, dates and definitions.
The Knowledge Organisers are currently being evaluated and improved as part of a wider curriculum review - they will be ready from September 2019