Glossary
Forgetting curve: definition
The forgetting curve describes how fast people forget information learned once: the loss is steep in the hours and days that follow, then slows down. Hermann Ebbinghaus first measured it in 1885.
What we know
Ebbinghaus learned lists of nonsense syllables and measured, at different intervals, how long it took to relearn them. A replication published in 2015 (Murre and Dros) found a curve very close to the original.
Two limits to keep in mind: these experiments use meaningless material, and a single subject. Meaningful, job-relevant content is forgotten more slowly; but the principle holds: without review, people forget.
How to slow it down
- Spaced review: revisit the essentials a few days, then a few weeks later;
- quick practice;
- short formats that are easy to rewatch, such as a one-minute reminder video.
Example
After fire safety training, a 45-second video on the assembly point is sent again on day 7, then before the evacuation drill.
Related terms
Microlearning, blended learning.
Sources
- Jaap M. J. Murre, Joeri Dros, Replication and Analysis of Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve, PLOS ONE, 2015.
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