Which technique best enhances retention of information?

• A. Teaching a peer as a retention technique.
• B. Rereading notes silently.
• C. Listening to a lecture without practice.
• D. Complete independent study with no discussion.

Answer: (A)

Teaching a peer harnesses retrieval and explanation to lock in learning. When you explain concepts to someone else, you must pull information from memory, organize it clearly, and put it into your own words. This retrieval practice strengthens memory traces and helps you see gaps you didn’t notice before, so you actively refine your understanding. Explaining to another person also forces you to tailor the material, which creates multiple retrieval cues and makes the knowledge more durable. The interaction provides quick feedback—questions from the learner spotlight areas you need to clarify, guiding you to tighten your grasp.

In contrast, silently rereading is largely passive and often leads to a false sense of familiarity because recognition doesn’t require you to recall or apply the information. Listening to a lecture without practice doesn’t engage you in retrieval or generation. Complete independent study with no discussion misses the benefits of feedback and retrieval practice that come from discussing and teaching the material.