Designing an Interactive Tool for Mnemonics Creation and Knowledge Retention

Abstract

Research shows that mnemonics are an effective learning technique, yet few tools support mnemonics-based long-term learning. We designed and evaluated a mnemonics-creation tool, the SAVE Tool, to promote active learning and retrieval practice. Forty-five participants were assigned to experimental and control groups and viewed a 10-minute biology lecture covering six topics. They completed recall and recognition tasks after a 45-minute practice session (T1), one week later without revision (T2), and after a 15-minute revision (T3). Results showed that the SAVE Tool group consistently outperformed the control group in recall across all time points, with statistically significant differences at T3 and for more difficult topics such as Krebs Cycle Substrates and Cranial Nerves. No significant group differences were found for recognition. These findings suggest mnemonics-based tools can enhance long-term learning without hindering understanding and should be integrated into memory-intensive courses.