What does the term 'retention' refer to in an educational context?

The term 'retention' in an educational context primarily refers to the ability to remember information over time. This encompasses how well students can recall what they have learned after a certain period and how effectively they can apply that knowledge to new situations. Retention is vital for long-term learning, as it determines whether students can retrieve and utilize information when needed.

While providing periodic reviews can help enhance retention by reinforcing previously learned skills, the act of remembering and holding onto that information itself is the essence of retention. The focus is on the cognitive process of memory rather than merely the methods employed to help aid that process. Therefore, two different concepts are being distinguished here—one being a method of reinforcing knowledge through review, and the other being the actual capability to hold that knowledge in memory, making the ability to remember information the correct understanding of retention in education.