Why is forgetting such an important part of learning? Robert Bjork explains something that every teacher should know.

Logic dictates that something—or someone—always had to exist. Assume it was a “someone,” not a “something.” Why would such a being create a world like ours, one filled with pain? The Advent of Time provides a definitive answer.

I think the reason is so hard for us to hold onto as an idea is that it's paradoxical or is indeed a good example of a dialectic. How do we help teachers to hold onto two seemingly irreconcilable ideas - we help to remember but to learn we need to forget.

Exactly, and this is the focus of a new book that I'm writing with @P_A_Kirschner @DrJimHeal and Piet Van Der Ploeg :)

So, is Bjork saying: something that I encounter and forget and then encounter again and then forget and then encounter again is likely to be better stored in my memory than something I encounter and keep retrievable and don't forget.

Yes that is my understanding. So, periods of forgetting (or rather what he calls 'reduced retrieval strength') followed by relearning actually strengthen the long-term storage strength of the memory more than just having constant easy access to it.

I think it would be useful for this information to be shared in an accessible way with students as well as with teachers. If I share the video with my students they would not understand it. They would not read the book either.

To your knowledge are there any short videos or clear infographics that could be shared with students about the importance of forgetting for learning?