FAA Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI)The Teaching Process and MethodsHard
During a stage check, an examiner asks the applicant about weight and balance procedures covered in the very first ground lesson months ago, and about density altitude effects covered in yesterday's lesson. The applicant recalls the density altitude discussion far more easily and accurately. This difference in recall is best explained by which law of learning?
- ALaw of effect
- BLaw of primacy
- CLaw of recency
- DLaw of intensity
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Law of recency
The law of recency states that the things most recently learned are best remembered, which explains why the applicant recalled yesterday's density altitude lesson more easily than material from months earlier.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Law of effect concerns emotional consequences of a response, not recall timing.
- B. Law of primacy concerns material learned first being strongly retained, which would predict better recall of the earlier lesson, not the recent one.
- D. Law of intensity concerns vivid or dramatic experiences, not simply timing of instruction.
Law of Recency
Things most recently learned are best remembered; instructors should end lessons with a review of important points.
- Recent material is retained better than older material
- Supports ending lessons with a summary/review
- One of the fundamental laws of learning
Memory trick: 'Recency = Recent-ly learned sticks best.'