Pedagogy

Many studies, dating back to the pioneering work of the psychologist Ebbinghaus in 1885, have shown how frail human memory is, with as much as 80% of everything we read forgotten within 24 hours.

Although our understanding of the human brain - and specifically how memory works - is far from complete, there is consensus in the research of the last 30 years around a number of techniques that can be highly effective in improving memory and recall performance.

Retrieval Practice

Practising the retrieval of information previously committed to memory. One of the most effective ways to rehearse what has been learned is in question and answer format.

Retrieval practice is very much at the heart of InQuizitor's pedagogy. Every time a student gets an answer correct, they are actively practising the retrieval of the relevant information, and reinforcing it as a long-term memory. When they get something wrong and are given the correct answer, they are highly motivated by the gameplay environment to store the information in such a way that they can retrieve it later upon demand.

One of the obstacles to retrieval practice is that - almost by definition - it can become boring. InQuizitor removes this obstacle by creating an engaging gamplay scenario around the information, and so learners enthusiastically rehearse retrieval of information relating to the same topic over and over again.

Spaced Repetition

This is what most students normally think of as revision or cramming - repeated reviewing of previously studied material, specifically with an interval between each review of the item.

InQuizitor spaces repetition by making a different selection of questions from a pool each time a quiz is run. This introduces variable time delays between each review of the same piece of information and is the key motivation for learners to store new information away in longer-term memory.

One of the risks of this mode of study is that it can quickly become passive, with the same few items being repeatedly reviewed in the same order; reinforcing the pattern of review rather than the content.

InQuizitor ensures all study is active and engaging by not only randomizing the questions, but also randomizing the order of questions, which distractors are displayed, and the position of the correct answer among them.

... and of course by encapsulating the whole experience in a massively engaging game!

Expanded Rehearsal

Expanded rehearsal builds on the technique of spaced repetition. Studies have shown that by spacing reviews of the same material at increasing intervals, the storage of information in the long-term memory and its recall at a later date is maximized.

InQuizitor makes it easy for learners or their teachers to schedule such expanded rehearsal. For example, a short quiz might be created first to immediately revise and reinforce the teaching of a few periods, then later incorporated into an end of topic review quiz covering a wider field. Later still, the same questions might appear in quizzes designed to prepare learners for mid-year assessments and then again finally for end of year exams.

Cellular And Biochemical Theories

It seems the techniques described above may work by building and reinforcing a maximal number of connections between neurons. These "physical" associations may be formed during the act of consolidating a memory and/or exploiting such associations during recall.

One of the ways this increased connectivity is thought to come about is that repeated stimulation of a memory pathway causes the release of a growth-activating protein that promotes the laying down of new synaptic contacts between cells.

Summary

By combining tried and tested pedagogy with exciting modern computer games, InQuizitor is highly effective at helping students study, revise and memorise key information; the material that is often the foundation upon which the rest of the curriculum is built. Consequently, InQuizitor can play a fundamental role in raising the attainment levels of all learners as well as help with challenges such as the re-engagement of disengaged learners and restoring confidence and self-esteem in underachieving learners.

Scientific References

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