The Forgetting Curve

Do you recall ever taking a course and the next day, you’ve already forgotten a significant portion of what you learned? It’s a common experience and it’s not surprising. Unless we actively make an effort to retain newly acquired information, it tends to slip from our memory within a few days. This situation is known as the forgetting curve.

A concept was developed by a German psychologist Herman Ebbinghaus in the late 19th century. It describes the rate at which information is forgotten over time when no effort is made to retain it. Ebbinghaus conducted numerous experiments to study the retention and forgetting of information, particularly in the context of memorization and learning. He recorded his findings mathematically in an attempt to discover patterns of forgetting and memory retention.?

The Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve serves as a valuable guideline for understanding how our memory functions and how we can enhance our ability to retain information.

Ebbinghaus discovered that the forgetting curve is exponential in nature. It begins with a steep decline, where the amount of retained knowledge drops significantly shortly after acquiring new information. In fact, the majority of forgetting takes place within the first hour of learning. And within the next day or two, we typically forget approximately 75% of what we have learned.

If there are no actions to retain the information, we will rapidly forget most of the content from a course. Within a week, it may seem as if the learning never took place at all.

Fortunately, there is a point where the rate of forgetting slows down. During this period, we have the opportunity to absorb and retain essential details in our long term memory.?

However, it is important to note that the exact shape and steepness of the curve may vary depending on individual factors such as the difficulty of the topic, the learning method used, and the individual’s knowledge or expertise in the subject.?

Understanding the forgetting curve is important for several reasons:

• By being aware of the forgetting curve, we can develop effective learning strategies to optimize our retention of information. Knowing that the percentage of forgetting falls rapidly at the early stages before it slows down can guide us in planning review sessions to reinforce the subject before it fades from memory.
• Recognising the tendency to forget allows us to allocate our time and resources more efficiently. We can focus on targeted review of key concepts and areas where our memory is likely to be weaker. This helps us make the most of our study time and retain information for longer periods.
• The forgetting curve points out the importance of regular review and maintaining knowledge. By implementing regular review sessions and repetition techniques, we can reduce the natural decline of memory and improve long-term retention. This is valuable in educational and professional settings particularly, where knowledge and skills need to be retained over an extended period.
• Understanding this curve benefits educators to enhance teaching and communication practice. Instructors can structure their lessons and materials in a way that reinforces key concepts and ensures better retention among learners. They can incorporate active learning strategies, regular assessments, and periodic reviews to help students overcome the challenges posed by the forgetting curve.

Now that you are aware of the forgetting curve, you can plan the best way for you to retain information after you attend any classes/courses/training sessions.?

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