Overcoming the Forgetting Curve: Reinforcement Strategies

Why One-Time Training Isn’t Enough:
Overcoming the Forgetting Curve with
Reinforcement
The Forgetting Curve and Its Relevance for Trainers:
How to Improve Learning Retention
Introduction

Trainers and learning professionals face a common challenge:
ensuring that learners retain and apply knowledge effectively over
time. Research has shown that without reinforcement, people
forget up to 80% of what they learn within a few days. This
phenomenon is known as the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve,
which illustrates how memory declines over time when information is
not actively revisited.
For businesses, the impact of the Forgetting Curve is significant.
Organizations invest time and resources in training employees, yet
much of this knowledge is quickly lost, leading to lower
productivity, increased retraining costs, and compliance
risks. To overcome this challenge, trainers must adopt strategies that
improve retention and ensure long-term learning effectiveness.
This article explores:
What the Forgetting Curve is and how it affects learning
The impact of forgetting on corporate training

Proven methods to combat the Forgetting Curve
How AI-powered microlearning solutions like MaxLearn
enhance knowledge retention
1. Understanding the Forgetting Curve
The Forgetting Curve was developed by Hermann Ebbinghaus, a
German psychologist, in the 1880s. Through experiments on memory
retention, he discovered that:
● Memory fades rapidly over time — Within an hour,
learners forget nearly 50% of what they’ve learned, and
after a week, they may retain only 20% of the
information.
● Reinforcement improves retention — Reviewing
material at spaced intervals helps strengthen memory.

● The brain prioritizes useful information — If
knowledge isn’t applied or reinforced, the brain considers it
unimportant and discards it.
Why Do We Forget?
Several factors contribute to information loss:
Lack of Repetition — Information that is not revisited is quickly
forgotten.
Cognitive Overload — Absorbing too much information at once
overwhelms memory.
Passive Learning — Reading or listening passively does not
engage the brain effectively.
Lack of Application — If employees do not use what they learn
in real-world situations, they are more likely to forget it.
How the Forgetting Curve Affects Training Programs

Low Retention Rates — Employees struggle to recall essential
job-related information.
Wasted Training Investment — Organizations spend money
on training that does not deliver long-term benefits.
Increased Retraining Needs — Frequent refresher sessions are
needed to compensate for lost knowledge.
Compliance & Safety Risks — Employees who forget critical
policies may cause legal or operational issues.
To ensure training success, trainers must use strategies that
actively counteract the Forgetting Curve and reinforce learning.
2. Strategies to Overcome the Forgetting Curve
To improve knowledge retention, trainers need to incorporate
scientifically proven learning strategies into their training
programs. Here are the most effective techniques: