Beating the Forgetting Curve in L&D: Strategies for Retention

From Information Overload to Lasting Learning:
Beating the Forgetting Curve in L&D
The Forgetting Curve: How Trainers Can Overcome
Knowledge Decay
Introduction
One of the biggest challenges trainers face is ensuring that employees
retain and apply the knowledge they gain from training sessions.

Studies show that without reinforcement, learners forget up to 90%
of what they learn within a week — a phenomenon known as the
Forgetting Curve.
Discovered by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus, the
Forgetting Curve reveals that memory retention declines rapidly
over time unless information is revisited and reinforced. This poses a
significant problem for corporate training programs, where
organizations invest heavily in training only to see knowledge fade
away quickly.
So how can trainers combat the Forgetting Curve and ensure that
employees retain critical information? In this article, we’ll explore the
impact of the Forgetting Curve on learning and provide
science-backed strategies to improve retention.
Understanding the Forgetting Curve
The Forgetting Curve is a graph that shows how newly acquired
information is lost over time unless efforts are made to retain it.
Within 24 hours, learners forget nearly 50% of what they
learned.
Within a week, up to 90% of knowledge is lost.

After a month, only about 10% of the original knowledge
remains.
Why Does the Forgetting Curve Occur?
Several factors contribute to memory decay, including:
Lack of reinforcement — Without periodic review, the brain
deprioritizes information.
Information overload — Employees receive too much
information at once, making it difficult to retain.
Passive learning methods — Traditional lectures and
slide-based training lack engagement.
No real-world application — If employees don’t use what they
learn, the brain discards it as unimportant.
Understanding the root causes of forgetting allows trainers to
implement solutions that enhance knowledge retention.
The Cost of the Forgetting Curve in Corporate
Training

The Forgetting Curve has serious consequences for organizations,
including:
Wasted Training Investment — Organizations spend billions
on training, yet most of it is forgotten.
Reduced Employee Performance — Employees who forget key
information struggle to apply their knowledge, affecting productivity.
Compliance & Safety Risks — Forgetting critical policies or
procedures can lead to compliance violations, legal issues, and
workplace accidents.
To maximize training ROI, companies must rethink their
training strategies to ensure that employees retain and apply
their knowledge over time.
5 Proven Strategies to Combat the Forgetting Curve
1. Use Microlearning for Reinforcement
Microlearning platform delivers information in short, bite-sized
lessons that focus on one key concept at a time. Instead of
overwhelming employees with lengthy training sessions,

microlearning provides digestible chunks of knowledge, making
it easier to retain.
Why it works: Small, frequent learning sessions prevent
information overload and enhance memory recall.
How to implement:
● Break down training into 2–5 minute modules covering a
single topic.
● Use a microlearning platform like MaxLearn to deliver
training in an engaging format.
● Provide content in multiple formats (videos, infographics,
quizzes) to enhance retention.
Fact: Microlearning improves retention by up to 80% compared
to traditional learning methods.
2. Apply Spaced Repetition for Long-Term Retention
Spaced repetition is a scientifically proven technique that involves
reviewing information at increasing intervals over time. This
resets the Forgetting Curve, reinforcing knowledge just before it
fades.