Flattening the Forgetting Curve

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There is a learning curve and then

there is a forgetting curve.

Bill Rosenthal

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The forgetting curve predicts that we lose up to 90% of the information we learn in training just a few days afterward.

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As a result, most of what

employees learn in training never gets applied to

work.

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How to Help Employees Remember and Apply Knowledge

• Provide accessible resources to reinforce information.

• Build learning programs on what employees already know.

• Train on immediately applicable skills.

• Trim out the fat from training materials.

• Reinforce information over time.• Help employees practice new skills.

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Provide accessible resources to reinforce information.

Flip charts Checklists Wikis

Emails Reference Docs

Mnemonics Posters Desk Tents

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Even doctors benefit from using checklists of best practices.

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Build on What Employees Already Know

Cognitive researchers know that linking new concepts to old ones makes it easier to remember the fresh information.

Try linking the steps of a new process to those of the old, so it's easier to recall.

Today’s Step 1

Tomorrow's Step 1

Today’s Step 2

Tomorrow’s Step 2

Today’s Step 3

Tomorrow’s Step 3

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Focus on Skills Needed Now

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Focus on Skills Needed Now

If employees can use what they just learned as soon as they leave the training, they'll retain it longer.• Micro-learning• Short videos• Tools like

Pract.us

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Trim Out Irrelevant Information from your Training

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People have a harder time remembering important

information if it's delivered together with useless noise.

• Ruthlessly cut anything that's not essential.

• Put additional information or background into optional resources.

• Create extra reading/practice for people who want a deep dive.

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Use Spaced Retrieval for Better Recall"Spaced Retrieval" is a tried and true technique for getting information into long term memory. Essentially, you give people som time to forget information, then ask them to remember it. Even if they fail, the right answers will lodge more firmly in memory.

Formal or informal quizzes at regular intervals are an easy and inexpensive way to do it.

Time from training

First quiz Second quiz Third quiz Fourth quiz

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Help Employees Practice

• Give people a time and a safe space to practice.

• Let employees make mistakes and get feedback.

• Be available to answer questions and remind people of key information.

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Don't Forget to Plan to Forget

Learn more about effective, low-cost, experience-based training

strategies

Pract.us

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Creative Attributions

Many thanks to:

Nicholas Menghini from Noun Project, Poster IconRyan Sun from Noun Project, Mnemonics IconKelcey Hurst from Noun Project, Desk Tent IconGregor Cresnar from Noun Project, Wiki IconIcons Bazaar from Noun Project, Reference IconLaymik from Noun Project, Brain IconRafael Garcia Motta from Noun Project, Flip Chart IconAdnen Kadri from Noun Project, Email Icon