Retrieval Practice, Responsive Teaching & Checking for Understanding

Think Forward Educators presents Dr Carl Hendrick in a compelling session on retrieval practice, responsive teaching, and checking for understanding that challenges educators to rethink how they use one of cognitive science's most powerful learning strategies. Rather than treating retrieval practice as merely a lesson starter or quiz activity, Hendrick explores how it can function as a curriculum-wide design feature—purposeful retrieval streams that are carefully aligned to curriculum content and sequenced to strengthen the connections students need most. This distinction between purposeful and 'busy' retrieval is crucial: not all practice testing is equally effective, and Hendrick provides frameworks for ensuring that the retrieval activities teachers design actually target the knowledge and understanding that matter most for long-term learning. Dr Hendrick is a Professor of Learning Science at Academica University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam and the author of several influential books including 'How Learning Happens' (co-authored with Paul Kirschner). With a PhD in education from King's College London and years of English teaching experience in both state and independent UK schools, he bridges the gap between research and classroom practice with unusual credibility. Think Forward Educators—a community of teachers, school leaders, specialists, parents, researchers, and advocates committed to the science of learning for excellence and equity—hosts this session as part of their programme bringing world-class educational researchers directly to Australian educators. The session is scheduled for May 28, 2026, and offers participants practical tools for building retrieval into their curriculum planning in ways that genuinely enhance student learning rather than simply adding another activity to an already crowded lesson.