What is the Forgetting Curve? ​

The Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve depicts how quickly we forget information over time if we make no effort to remember it. This is an obvious challenge for learning and development professionals. But is it worth spending time and money on course development and training if students are unlikely to remember what they’ve learned?

To overcome this obstacle, you must first comprehend the most effective strategies available. Although various factors influence the rate of forgetting, the good news is that there are several techniques you can employ in your classes to help your students overcome the Forgetting Curve.

Make Learning Applicable 

They’re more likely to accept and remember training if they can see how to make their job easier or save them time. In addition, the more relevant the information is to daily tasks, the more valuable the learning experience becomes.

Make Learning Accessible

Making courses conveniently accessible for your learners is critical if you want your training content to stick. They should be able to complete training at any time of day, regardless of where they are.

This is where the use of mobile learning comes in. It is easier for your learners to learn and retain information if they can access their courses whenever and wherever they want. This way, they’ll have a much better chance of recalling and refreshing their knowledge.

Gamification 

Another way to use engagement to beat the Forgetting Curve is through gamification. It applies game mechanics to other activities, such as eLearning, and then uses them to motivate your learners to complete the required learning. It’s also more likely to retain knowledge because it’s interactive and keeps your learners engaged.

Keep Learning Engaging 

Not only will having engaging courses improve completion rates, but it will also help learners retain information. So, keep the Forgetting Curve in mind when creating course content. But how are you going to do it? We recommend that you make information more digestible from the start. 

When students read large amounts of text, their concentration naturally deteriorates, resulting in lower knowledge retention. So instead, keep your learners interested by incorporating videos, images, and webinars into your content. Even better, rather than being passive observers, encourage your students to participate in the course actively.

Spaced Learning 

There are two crucial elements to consider to comprehend what was fully absorbed. The first is time. The application of timely reinforcement is the other.

This is possible with spaced learning, one of the most effective methods for overcoming the learning curve. Learners can reshape the Curve of Forgetting by using spaced learning to manage information retention. In turn, organizations benefit from spaced learning because it promotes long-term skill retention and increased productivity.

Blended Bite-Sized Modules 

The learner also gets practice retrieving the information they’ve learned in various formats, such as solving problems, taking exams, and so on. Again, this helps to combat the Forgetting Curve by reinforcing content.

Your eLearning needs can be met with spaced learning using bite-sized learning modules. The spacing can occur within multiple as well as single course modules. Similarly, learners are more likely to absorb information if presented in bite-sized chunks and repeatedly demonstrated in different, creative ways, such as in blended learning.

Make Learning Relevant

Did you know our brain is selective and has a finite amount of processing power? That is true; the brain can be picky when deciding whether or not to save certain pieces of information permanently. This unconscious decision, in turn, hastens the forgetting process. As a result, you should make training as relevant to the learner as possible when planning it. The more relevant the activity is, the easier it will be to absorb and remember what they need to know.

Support Knowledge Sharing 

Your organization actively supports knowledge sharing through training days, workshops, or a thorough onboarding process. When your learners understand that frequent learning and reiteration are part of your company’s daily routine, they’ll be more likely to participate in training and retain critical information.

Open Learning Environment 

It is not difficult to create an open learning environment. If your company holds mandatory isolated training events now and then, your employees will likely forget what they’ve learned. You can help reinforce learning and increase the amount of knowledge retained by holding frequent training events. Encourage students to provide feedback after completing a course and use this data to improve your content and foster a positive learning environment. 

Create A Learning Culture

With the help of a learning culture created within your company, learners are more likely to prioritize training and retain relevant knowledge. Learning is always happening, whether formal education is delivered through an LMS or informal learning through knowledge sharing at the water cooler.

In terms of practicality, you can encourage your students to embrace this learning culture by making it as enjoyable as possible. It happens by creating engaging course content with a great user experience and delivering it to your trainees via an easy-to-use LMS.