What are aids called that help learners with memory retention?

The term used for aids that assist learners with memory retention is "mnemonics." Mnemonics are techniques or strategies that create a connection between new information and existing knowledge, facilitating easier recall. They often use patterns, acronyms, rhymes, or visual imagery to help encode information in a way that makes it memorable.

For instance, using the first letter of each word in a list to form a memorable phrase is a classic mnemonic technique. This helps students retrieve complicated information more easily by simplifying and organizing it in a form that is easier to remember. By engaging different cognitive processes, mnemonics enhance memory retention significantly.

While study guides, flashcards, and visual cues can also support learning and memory retention in various ways, they don't specifically embody the concept of mnemonic devices that are designed distinctly for the purpose of enhancing recall through association.