Built on how learning actually works.
Knowness is designed around proven principles from cognitive and learning neuroscience, making effective study habits an automatic part of the course experience.
Six principles, built into the platform.
See how each principle is translated into specific course tools, practice routines, and feedback across Knowness.
Principle 1 of 6
Retrieval Practice
What is Retrieval Practice?
Students retain information for longer, and recall it more accurately, when they actively retrieve what they have learned rather than simply reviewing it passively.
How does Knowness implement Retrieval Practice?
Flashcards prompt students to actively recall key facts, concepts, and ideas as they progress through a course.
Exercises require students to apply what they have learned, strengthening understanding through problem-solving and active use of knowledge.
Every concept and idea in a course is supported by corresponding Flashcards and Exercises, ensuring students repeatedly retrieve and apply material without leaving gaps in their knowledge.
All Flashcards and Exercises are automatically marked using human-written answers and feedback alongside AI.
Embedded in the lesson
The CPU fetches an instruction from memory, decodes what needs to happen, then executes the operation.
What happens during the fetch-decode-execute cycle?
Principle 2 of 6
Spaced Practice
What is Spaced Practice?
Reviewing material over time leads to better long-term retention than cramming. In fact, allowing some forgetting to occur before revisiting material can make memories more durable.
How does Knowness implement Spaced Practice?
Knowness’ Spaced Practice Algorithm tracks how well each student knows every Flashcard and Exercise, and automatically schedules when each should be revisited.
Material the student finds difficult is reviewed sooner, while material they know well is reviewed at increasingly longer intervals.
Completed Flashcards and Exercises appear in the course’s Revision Tab, where students can see their course proficiency and what is due for review.
Spaced Repetition
Due today
Next review
Weaker cards return sooner. Stronger cards wait longer.
Principle 3 of 6
Interleaving
What is Interleaving?
Switching between topics and problem types during study, and revisiting them in different combinations and sequences, helps students distinguish between ideas, make connections, and learn when to apply each one.
How does Knowness implement Interleaving?
Knowness’ Spaced Practice Algorithm varies the order of Flashcards and Exercises and can combine material from different lessons and courses.
Flashcards and Exercises are mixed, requiring students to switch between tasks such as recalling facts, solving problems, and writing explanations.
The Deck Manager allows students to create custom revision decks containing Flashcards and Exercises from any combination of lessons or courses.
Mixed practice queue
Algorithms
Memory
Networks
Logic
Principle 4 of 6
Dual Coding
What is Dual Coding?
Combining words with relevant visuals can improve understanding and memory by giving students more than one way to represent and recall information.
How does Knowness implement Dual Coding?
Knowness courses make extensive use of professionally made plots, figures, diagrams, and other visual representations to support explanations and reinforce key concepts.
The Notes and Whiteboard features allow students to create, draw, and save their own diagrams, annotations, and visual notes as they work through a course.
Lesson explanation
Words and visuals together
A diagram sits beside the explanation, so the student can connect the label, image, and idea at the same time.
Caption
Visual cues make the concept easier to recall later.
Principle 5 of 6
Concrete Examples
What are Concrete Examples?
Using specific, concrete examples helps students understand and remember ideas. Additionally, seeing a concept applied in different contexts helps students recognise the underlying principle and how it can be used in new situations.
How does Knowness implement Concrete Examples?
Knowness courses explain concepts alongside specific examples, worked examples, and real-world applications, helping make abstract ideas easier to understand.
Optional Examples and Case Studies show the same concepts applied in different contexts, helping students deepen their understanding and recognise how ideas transfer to new situations.
Worked example
From idea to application
Example
A queue at a printer behaves like FIFO: the first document sent is the first one printed.
Concept
Example
Apply
Principle 6 of 6
Elaboration
What is Elaboration?
Elaboration involves explaining ideas in greater depth, asking how and why they work, and connecting new information to what is already known. This helps students build a richer understanding rather than simply memorising isolated facts.
How does Knowness implement Elaboration?
Analogies connect unfamiliar concepts to more familiar ones and help students make new connections between ideas.
The automated feedback provided when Flashcards and Exercises are answered is designed to help identify gaps in students’ reasoning and improve their answers.
Knowness’ Spaced Practice Algorithm regularly brings previously learned material back into revision, helping students connect new ideas with knowledge they have already encountered.
Explain your answer
Reasoning, then feedback
The value is stored in memory so the CPU can fetch it again later.
Feedback
Good link to memory. Add why instructions and data share storage.
Evidence is only useful when students can act on it.
Knowness turns learning science into specific moments: answer a card, revisit a weak idea, compare a worked example, complete a topic, and see progress update clearly.
Learning loop
Ready to practice
Active recall
Short recall beats passive rereading.
Spaced review
Important ideas return at useful intervals.
Visible progress
Students can see what to do next.