Rehearsal in Educational Psychology
Rehearsal is a cognitive process involving the repetition of information to enhance learning and memory. It encompasses two primary types: maintenance and elaborative rehearsal. Maintenance rehearsal involves repeatedly reciting information aloud or mentally to retain it in working memory, but this approach is prone to rapid forgetting. Elaborative rehearsal, on the other hand, connects new knowledge to existing long-term memories by employing strategies such as paraphrasing, creating analogies, or explaining concepts to others.
Maintenance Rehearsal
Maintenance rehearsal primarily aims to store information in working memory for immediate use. It is a rote-learning technique that focuses on repetition without necessarily understanding the underlying concepts. While this method can be temporarily effective, it often requires significant effort and may not lead to long-term retention.
Elaborative Rehearsal
Elaborative rehearsal involves actively integrating new material with existing knowledge structures. It engages the learner's brain in meaningful processing, making memories more durable and easily retrievable. Strategies such as paraphrasing, explaining concepts, and asking questions promote deeper understanding and strengthen memory retention over time.
Case Study
A study examining the effects of elaboration and rehearsal on kindergarteners' long-term retention of shape names found that elaboration strategies were significantly more effective. These strategies helped children create meaningful connections between new knowledge and their existing understanding, leading to improved memory performance.