Spaced Repetition: The Science of Memorization

The Forgetting Curve: Why We Forget

In 1885, Hermann Ebbinghaus demonstrated that without review, we forget 70% of information within 24 hours and 90% within a week. This is the famous forgetting curve.

But he also discovered something revolutionary: each review at the right time flattens the curve and extends the time before the next forgetting.

The Spaced Repetition Principle

The idea is simple: review just before forgetting. Here's a typical schedule:

• Day 1: Initial learning
• Day 2: First review
• Day 4: Second review
• Day 7: Third review
• Day 14: Fourth review
• Day 30: Fifth review

After these 5 reviews, the information is anchored in your long-term memory.

Flashcards: The Perfect Tool for Spaced Repetition

Flashcards are the ideal medium because they enable:

• Active recall: you must search for the answer in your memory
• Difficulty sorting: you review more often what you haven't mastered
• Portability: review anywhere, anytime

Creating Effective Flashcards

Golden Rules

1. One piece of information per card: no catch-all cards
2. Precise questions: "Which enzyme catalyzes..." rather than "Discuss digestion"
3. Short answers: if the answer exceeds 2 sentences, split it
4. Add context: images, examples, mnemonics

Save Time with AI

Manually creating flashcards is time-consuming. With Lectio, AI analyzes your courses and automatically generates flashcards from key concepts identified in the transcription.

The SM-2 Algorithm

Most spaced repetition apps (Anki, SuperMemo, Lectio) use a variant of the SM-2 algorithm:

• If you answer easily → the interval increases significantly
• If you answer moderately → the interval increases moderately
• If you answer with difficulty → the card returns quickly

Combining Spaced Repetition with Courses

1. After each lecture: import the recording into Lectio
2. That evening: go through the generated flashcards (first exposure)
3. The next day: first spaced repetition session
4. Before the exam: difficult cards automatically come back

Expected Results

Studies show that spaced repetition allows you to retain 90% of information compared to 20% with simple re-reading. That's 4.5x more effective.

Try spaced repetition with Lectio — your flashcards are ready in minutes.