ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Active recall

Active recall is like playing a game where you try to remember things you learned before. Imagine you learned about animals in school, and your teacher asked you questions like "What is a red bird with a black beak called?" You would have to think really hard and remember that it's a cardinal. That's active recall!

When you actively recall information, you're not just looking at it and hoping you remember it later. You're engaging your brain by trying to bring that information to the front of your mind. This is a really good way to remember things for a long time.

To practice active recall, you can try testing yourself on things you learned by making flashcards or taking practice quizzes. This will help you remember information better and make it easier for you to recall it later when you need to use it.