A New Learning Podcast Puts Knowledge to the Test

Chalk & Talk’s October 30 episode, “How Do We Learn? What Memory Research Means for Teaching,” brings host Anna Stokke together with researcher and author Héctor Ruiz Martín to discuss memory, retrieval practice, feedback, and why applying knowledge in new situations can be difficult. The episode’s transcript notes that feedback matters most when learners get a chance to use it—and try again. Read the episode notes and transcript.

A practical experiment follows: choose one idea you’re learning, try recalling it without notes, then apply it to a different example. Notice what transfers and where you get stuck. That’s a useful signal about what to practice next—not a verdict on your ability. Revisit the attempt in a week and adjust your understanding if needed.

When you’re learning something new, what helps you tell the difference between remembering an idea and being able to use it?