What strategy can enhance retention of scientific concepts?

Engaging with hands-on experiments or interactive activities directly relates to the principle of experiential learning, which emphasizes that people learn effectively when they are actively involved in the learning process. By participating in experiments, students can create a meaningful connection with the scientific concepts, allowing them to visualize and understand theories and mechanisms in practice. This active form of learning not only enhances understanding but also aids in long-term retention because it encourages learners to apply the concepts in real-world scenarios, facilitating deeper cognitive processing and making the information more memorable.

In contrast, the other strategies mentioned tend to be less effective for retention. Reading textbooks multiple times without breaks may lead to rote familiarity but does not promote deeper understanding or application of concepts. Focusing solely on memorization of definitions misses the critical aspect of understanding how those definitions apply in practical contexts, which is essential in scientific learning. Listening to lectures without taking notes can result in passive engagement, making it difficult for learners to retain information since they are not actively processing or reflecting on the material being presented.