Behaltenswerte

Behaltenswerte is a German term used to describe information or concepts that are considered worthy of retention in memory. The word is formed from behalten (to retain) and wert (value) and roughly translates to “retention-worthy” or “worth retaining.” In educational contexts, behaltenswerte Inhalte are those elements of a curriculum or a lesson that learners are expected to remember long-term, such as core facts, rules, procedures, or skills.

Usage and significance: Teachers and instructional designers may identify behaltenswerte Inhalte when planning courses, assessments, and study guides. Emphasis on behaltenswerte Inhalte often guides decisions about sequencing, emphasis, and the integration of retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and meaningful elaboration to improve long-term retention.

Distinctions: Behaltenswert is not a formal psychological category like essential learning outcomes but a practical label. It can overlap with concepts such as Kernwissen, Kernkompetenzen, or essential learning objectives. The criterion is typically the expected utility of the knowledge for future tasks, exams, or real-life application.

Examples: In mathematics, the quadratic formula is commonly considered behaltenswerte; in science, the laws of thermodynamics; or basic safe-handling procedures in laboratories. In language learning, essential vocabulary and common sentence structures are often treated as behaltenswerte Inhalte.

See also: Lernziel, Kerncurriculum, Lerninhalte, Gedächtnisforschung, Retrieval practice.