The effects of choice on memory and implications for learning

Research on active learning focusing on learner choice has increased globally over the past years, with contributions from developmental psychology as well as cognitive and educational sciences. Integrating these perspectives helps clarify how giving learners choice engages cognitive mechanisms (e.g., attention, exploration, autonomy, cognitive control, metacognitive monitoring) that develop from infancy through adulthood. In this article, we argue that choice influences learning primarily through its effects on memory and the mechanisms that support memory. We review experimental evidence on the effects of choice on memory across the lifespan to identify the developmental trajectory of these mechanisms and explain why findings sometimes differ across tasks and age groups. We propose that the benefits of choice emerge in early childhood but vary depending on the maturation of underlying mechanisms and task demands. We consider how these insights can inform educational practice globally and support the development of these mechanisms from early education onward. We conclude with directions for research.