What is the Forgetting Curve?

The forgetting curve is like a slide that helps understand why our training programs fall short of helping people learn and retain new skills and behaviors. I have made it my mission to teach people how to make and use video for learning purposes. In this case, I’m focused on explaining how we should use the forgetting curve model as a reminder to always offer ways to learn. In this video post, Uncle Wiki and I will define “the forgetting curve” and then I offer a few ways we can flatten it and keep people in the know.

This video was edited in Camtasia and subtitled using the free version of Kapwing.

Hi! I’m Chris Karel from the Learning Carton! I’m on a mission to help YOU make better learning videos. And I’m here to help you use those videos to create better learning experiences.

Hi! Chris Karel, from the Learning Carton here!

Have you ever learned something new and then forgot it?

This is called the forgetting curve. And to explain exactly what it is…

UNCLE WIKI

Thank you

Hermann Ebbinghaus ran a limited, incomplete study on himself and published his hypothesis in 1885 as Über das Gedächtnis

CHRIS

[clap, clap] Wrap it up!

UNCLE WIKI

Rude! The forgetting curve hypothesizes the decline of memory retention in time. This curve shows how information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain it.

CHRIS

Thanks Uncle Wiki –

The forgetting curve is like a slide that helps understand why our training programs fall short of helping people Learn and retain new skills and behaviors.

Check this! 5 days after we learn something, we forget 90% of the information, I’m sure you can all relate to that.

So, how do we stop the slide, or flatten the curve? –So that people learn and keep on learning.

I suggest we advocate for relevant and interactive microlearning and in the flow of work performance support that allows people to get the answers they need while they’re working,

We know that repetition leads to learning.

So, we need to remind OUR people what they learned in the first place,

We need to make it engaging and interactive, and if we’re really good at our jobs, we can build a learning community into a culture of learning in the organization.

Now you tell me, how do you talk to your business leaders about the forgetting curve?

What do you do to flatten the curve?

Comment down below and until next time, Peace