Effects of Expanding Retrieval Practice in the Learning of an Increasing Set of Second Language Vocabulary

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Our research will (a) contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of learning with regard to the relative advantages of equal and expanding spacing schedules and (b) inform curriculum planning and pedagogical practice (e.g., how to distribute the content of a curriculum across time to optimize learning).

On a practical level, this project will help to inform teachers, curriculum designers, and policy makers about how learning should be spaced to optimize retention. For policy makers, the results can inform debates regarding how often, and for how long, students should study foreign languages as part of their formal education. Our data will help inform curriculum designers how content should be structured within existing curricula to achieve learning outcomes and promote long-term learning. For teachers, students, and parents, this project will provide guidelines on how study (whether in the classroom or at home) can be structured to promote learning and retention.
 

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