Learning with the Primacy-Recency Curve

People who remember things aren't just lucky. 

They usually have strategies that help them remember.

So carrying around a horseshoe probably won't help you remember, unless it reminds you of the Primacy-Recency Curve.

Like a horseshoe, the Primacy-Recency Curve is 'U-shaped'.

The Primacy-Recency Curve maps our retention of information over time. It says that we typically remember the first and last things we hear.

How can you use this? Well, as a presenter, the Primacy-Recency curve suggests that you should state your Most Important Point at the beginning and repeat it at the addition.

As a teacher, you give an overview at the beginning and a review at the end.

As a learner, you should study the most important or most difficult parts first, and then review them at the end.

*'horseshoe' image by dmitry poliansky