spacedreview

Spacedreview is a concept in educational psychology that describes a systematic approach to reviewing material at expanding intervals to reinforce long-term memory. The core idea is to schedule reviews so that information is recalled after increasingly longer delays, leveraging the spacing effect to reduce forgetting. Spacedreview often incorporates retrieval practice, encouraging active recall during each review rather than passive rereading.

Implementation of spacedreview typically starts with a brief restudy after initial learning and progresses to longer intervals based on item difficulty and prior performance. Common elements include active recall prompts, feedback on responses, and adaptive adjustments to intervals. It can be applied with physical flashcards, digital flashcard apps, or integrated into broader instructional designs, and is used for domains such as vocabulary, factual knowledge, formulas, and procedural steps.

Spacedreview is closely related to spaced repetition systems and the broader testing effect. It rests on research showing that well-timed retrieval practice over spaced intervals strengthens memory traces more effectively than massed practice. Benefits include improved retention and more efficient long-term studying. Limitations include the need for accurate self-assessment of difficulty and consistent practice; it may be less suitable for certain complex or skill-based learning without additional instructional methods.

In scholarly and instructional contexts, spacedreview is described as a descriptive label for this practice rather than a specific product. It is discussed alongside concepts such as the forgetting curve, interleaving, and adaptive learning.

See also: spaced repetition, retrieval practice, testing effect, forgetting curve, active recall.