Active Recall and How It Works

Active recall might sound a bit technical, but it’s actually a simple and powerful tool for learning. In the context of onboarding and induction, it’s particularly valuable. It’s a method that helps employees not only absorb important information but remember it, which is crucial when they’re trying to settle into new roles or responsibilities.

Think about meeting someone on your first day at a new job. They introduce themselves, but then you don’t see them again for a while. By the time you do, their name has likely slipped your mind. On the other hand, if you’re working closely with that person and hearing their name often, it sticks. That’s Active Recall in action – every time your brain retrieves the name, it strengthens the memory.

When it comes to onboarding and induction, this concept is key. By repeatedly engaging with important policies, procedures, or company values, employees are far more likely to retain the knowledge they need to succeed in their roles. HR quizzes, for example, use Active Recall to help embed this critical information.

In today’s fast-paced work environments, it’s essential that new employees learn – and retain – key information quickly. Whether it’s safety protocols, compliance regulations, or the company’s mission statement, Active Recall helps make sure that the material sticks. It’s not just about throwing a handbook at someone and hoping for the best; it’s about actively engaging them with that content.

Onboarding quizzes are a perfect way to put this into practice, turning what might otherwise be passive review into an active learning experience.

Passive review is when someone reads or listens to information without really engaging with it – think reading through a company manual. It’s easy for minds to wander, and you often need to revisit the material because you weren’t really paying attention. This is where onboarding processes can fall short if they rely too heavily on passive review methods.

Active Recall, on the other hand, forces you to actively retrieve information. It’s the difference between reading through company values once, and answering a quiz question like, “What are the three main pillars of our company culture?” The second method is much more effective for long-term retention.

You might think that simply reading through policies or watching training videos over and over again will help someone remember them. But it’s not about how much time you spend reviewing material—it’s about how you engage with it. Onboarding quizzes, with frequent, active recall questions, can help reinforce the most important points without overwhelming new hires.

One of the biggest challenges with onboarding is keeping new employees engaged and ensuring they actually learn the material. Quizzes, especially those designed to use Active Recall, help keep employees focused and make sure they’re really absorbing what’s important—whether it’s how to handle workplace safety or the best practices for customer service.

The idea behind our onboarding quizzes came from my university days. Faced with heaps of information in my course, I started using short questions and answers to study, – without even realizing it, I was using Active Recall. The method worked so well that I topped the class. That’s why I’m so passionate about using this approach in the workplace, where it can be just as effective.

Here are some great insights that back up the power of Active Recall:

• “Just asking a question forces your mind to focus on the topic at hand.” – Christopher Pappas
• “When you’re simply reading or rewriting notes, your brain isn’t really doing much. But Active Recall pushes it to think and engage.” – Joe the Tutor
• “Studies show that retrieval practice is crucial for learning, but many students don’t use it.” – Jeffrey D. Karpicke & Henry L. Roediger
• “Frequent, low-stakes quizzes are great for long-term retention.” – Chelan Huddleston

In short, Active Recall can be the key to successful onboarding – helping new employees learn faster, retain critical information longer, and feel more confident in their roles.

“Make it idiot proof, and someone will make a better idiot” – George Bernard Shaw

Colin King – CEO of HR Quizzes