A learning technique that schedules review of previously learned material at progressively increasing intervals, exploiting the psychological spacing effect to optimize long-term retention. Parameters: (1) review intervals follow a fixed or adaptive schedule, (2) material is reviewed just before the point of forgetting, (3) the system adapts intervals based on recall performance. Persists through educational practice, instructional design, and digital flashcard platforms like Anki and SuperMemo. [formal: distributio | substrate: behavior | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
spaced-repetition
A learning technique that schedules review of previously learned material at progressively increasing intervals, exploiting the psychological spacing effect to optimize long-term retention. Parameters: (1) review intervals follow a fixed o…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made learning technique that schedules review of material at increasing intervals to exploit the psychological spacing effect, persisting through educational practice, instructional systems, and algorithmic flashcard systems.
Names and aliases
- spaced-repetitionen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrf51qwi005rcqqtmpyziy84DEPENDS_ON →
spaced-repetition is a learning technique whose entire mechanism depends on the properties of human memory. Remove memory and spaced-repetition is meaningless — present-tense necessity (Law 8).
- cmrqjxs8a09l9d1nltc5ha9ypINSTANCE_OF →
Spaced repetition is a specific kind of cognitive strategy — organizing review intervals over time to optimize memory retention. A competent speaker would call it 'a cognitive strategy'. It stands alongside interleaving and retrieval-practice as a cognitive strategy. Law 9 test passes: specific→general, nearest kind confirmed.
- cmrhajc2b015x8aehc613gx7cSERVES →
Spaced-repetition is designed for the sake of learning: it structures review intervals to exploit the spacing effect and maximize long-term retention. Per Law 8d, the servant points at the master — spaced-repetition exists to further learning's operation.
- cmrysnne801xlekkxqxo7iqrmINSTANCE_OF →
Spaced repetition is a specific kind of learning strategy: it organizes review sessions at increasing intervals to optimize long-term retention. The 'a Y' test passes — spaced repetition is a learning strategy. Nearest kind: learning-strategy (no closer kind between them).
- cmrzcb90e0015fb7ljkcuu17sDEPENDS_ON →
Spaced repetition is a learning technique that works by targeting long-term memory retention curves. Remove long-term memory — and there is no retention curve to exploit, no memory strength to manipulate, so the technique stops operating.
- cmsmq5y0t020d1q13oxsny906DERIVED_FROM →
Spaced repetition as a learning technique was developed based on the mechanism of memory consolidation. The technique DERIVED_FROM understanding how memory consolidation operates — repeated recall at spaced intervals leverages consolidation to strengthen retention. Which came first: memory consolidation (biological mechanism) predated the spaced repetition technique.
- cmrf51qwi005rcqqtmpyziy84SERVES →
Spaced repetition — the scheduling of review intervals to optimize retention — is built and maintained for the sake of memory. Its designed purpose is to strengthen and extend memory traces. Law 8d: the servant (spaced-repetition) points at the master (memory).
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 17, 2026, 7:58 PM UTC
- Content hash
- eb512e6d22060e455496b770c1c07a4205529efc8253e8ca6337fe0be2c320b1