the fact that we tend to remember the items at the end of a list is referred to as
Serial-position effect Serial-position effect is the tendency of a person to recall the first and last items in a series best, and the middle items worst.[1] The term was coined by Hermann Ebbinghaus through studies he performed on himself, and refers to the finding that recall accuracy varies as a function of an item's position within a study list.[2] When asked to recall a list of items in any order (free recall), people tend to begin recall with the end of the list, recalling those items best (the recency effect). Among earlier list items, the first few items are recalled more frequently than the middle items (the primacy effect).[3][4]
Meaningful learning The concept or theory of meaningful learning is that learned information is completely understood and can now be used to make connections with other previously known knowledge, aiding in further understanding[1]. It is often contrasted with rote learning, a method in which you just memorize information, but do not understand it or know how to relate it[1]. Memorizing flashcards is an example of rote learning. Coming up with your own examples of concepts is an example of meaningful learning. Relating what you learned to something in your own life not only makes the topic more interesting, encouraging further research and learning, but it also makes it easier to remember. Meaningful learning encourages the learner to understand the information presented and will help them to come up with active learning techniques to aid their understanding[2]. Meaningful learning takes longer than rote memorization, but the information is typically retained longer this way[2]. In addition, meaningful learning can incorporate many different techniques, such as concept mapping, hands-on tasks, and more. Some techniques may be more helpful than others depending on the learner[2].