Developing Experts' Design: Enhancing Learning Through Effective Recall Techniques

Questions are powerful educational tools, guiding pupils' learning journeys and assessing their understanding. In this post, we'll explore recall and multiple-choice questions, focusing on how they can be leveraged to enhance learning outcomes in the classroom.

Recall questions serve as checkpoints for pupils to retrieve information from memory. They play a crucial role in reinforcing learning and promoting active engagement. Crafting effective recall questions involves clarity, relevance and varying difficulty levels. For example, in a lesson on climate dynamics or weather, a recall question might ask pupils to recall the stages of the water cycle. At Developing Experts (DE), we structure our presentations by beginning with a lesson starter, which allows pupils to recall knowledge from either the previous lesson or the previous unit. These questions strengthen memory retention and facilitate deeper understanding by prompting pupils to retrieve previously learned information.

Connecting new concepts to pupils’ existing knowledge and experiences is essential for meaningful learning. Building on prior knowledge encourages pupils to make connections and facilitates comprehension. Strategies like brainstorming, concept mapping and pre-assessment activities help activate prior knowledge and create a foundation for new learning. For instance, before introducing a new concept at the start of a unit, teachers can use DE’s Before and After tests to assess their pupils’ progress. Furthermore, our Rocket Thinking questions - which are found within every unit in KS1 and KS2 - help pupils recall their knowledge and forge connections between units and real-world concepts. By scaffolding learning experiences, educators can gradually build upon prior knowledge, creating a deeper understanding of complex concepts.

Multiple-choice questions are versatile assessment tools that can measure understanding and critical thinking skills. When crafted thoughtfully, multiple-choice questions can assess higher-order thinking and problem-solving abilities. Effective multiple-choice questions avoid ambiguity and include plausible distractors to challenge pupils’ thinking. Utilising multiple-choice questions strategically can provide valuable insights into pupils’ comprehension levels and guide instructional decisions. 

DE incorporates effective questioning techniques - such as recall questions, Rocket Thinking prompts and multiple-choice questions - into lesson presentations to significantly enhance learning outcomes. By encouraging active engagement, fostering connections and assessing understanding, these techniques aim to empower you to create dynamic learning environments where pupils thrive.