You’ve spent weeks creating the perfect course.

The content is crisp.

The design is slick.

The assessments are tight.

Then... six days later, no one remembers a thing.

Sound familiar?

You’re not imagining it. Learners really do forget most of what they’ve learned. And fast. In fact, that’s exactly what one man proved more than 130 years ago. His name was Hermann Ebbinghaus, and he gave us one of the most important insights in the science of learning: The Forgetting Curve.

Who Was Hermann Ebbinghaus?

Hermann Ebbinghaus was a German psychologist who pioneered experimental studies of memory. In the late 19th century - long before brain scans or online learning - he decided to study how we forget.

Ebbinghaus famously used nonsense syllables (like “ZOF” or “QAX”) to eliminate emotional bias and measure pure memory. Through a series of meticulous self-experiments, he charted how quickly he forgot information over time.

What he discovered was shocking, even by today’s standards.

What is the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve?

Ebbinghaus found that memory loss follows a predictable pattern. We forget newly learned information rapidly unless we take steps to retain it.

This pattern is known as the Forgetting Curve. Here’s what it looks like:

• Within 1 hour, people forget up to 50% of new information

• Within 24 hours, they forget 70%

• Within a week, around 90% is gone

  
  

Let that sink in.

You could be investing time, money and effort into corporate training solutions, only to lose almost all the value within days.

But here’s the good news: we can beat the curve.

Why the Forgetting Curve Matters to L&D

If your learners forget most of what you teach, then your learning outcomes, behaviour change and ROI all suffer. It’s not enough to deliver great content - you need a strategy to make it stick.

And that’s where the science of spacing, retrieval and reinforcement comes in.

At Popcorn, we use the Forgetting Curve as a guide when developing custom eLearning content, microlearning, and blended learning solutions. We treat retention not as an afterthought, but as part of the design from day one.

How to Beat the Forgetting Curve: 7 Learning Design Strategies That Work

1. Use Spaced Repetition

Instead of one big learning dump, spread your content out over time. Revisit key messages at increasing intervals to help information move from short-term to long-term memory.

Real-world example: In our leadership programmes, we break modules into weekly bites with follow-up prompts via email or LMS. This boosts retention dramatically.

2. Build in Retrieval Practice

Retrieving information strengthens memory better than simply reviewing it. Use quizzes, flashcards, and reflection activities to make learners recall, not just recognise.

Top tip: Start sessions with a quick recap of the previous module, or use a “What do you remember?” warm-up question.

3. Design Interactive eLearning

Passive reading won’t cut it. Learners need to do something with the content. Use drag-and-drop tasks, simulations and branching scenarios to turn information into action.

Bonus: This boosts engagement, which improves recall.

4. Use Real-Life Context

People remember what feels meaningful. Abstract policies? Forgettable. A relatable story about a manager navigating that policy? Sticky. In a good way.

Popcorn principle: Build emotional connection through characters, storytelling and practical application.

5. Reinforce Through Microlearning

Use short, targeted bursts of learning to revisit key concepts over time. This is especially effective for compliance, onboarding or product knowledge.

Try: 2-minute animated recap videos or short knowledge quizzes delivered weekly.

6. Use Multi-Sensory Delivery

Ebbinghaus didn’t have video or audio. We do. Use visuals, sound, animation and narration together to cater to different learning styles and create stronger memory traces.

Just make sure: Every element serves a purpose (see our WCAG accessibility guide).

7. Close the Loop with Follow-Up Nudges

Don’t let learning end at the final screen. Build in nudges, check-ins and manager-led discussions weeks later to keep knowledge alive.

Tools: Emails, LMS alerts, social learning threads or in-person follow-ups are all fair game.

Final Thought: Retention is the Real Measure of Success

Ebbinghaus taught us that forgetting is natural. But with the right design strategy, it’s not inevitable.

The best Learning and Development solutions don’t just deliver content. They help people remember it, use it and embed it into real-world practice.

At Popcorn, we take beating the Forgetting Curve seriously. Because learning that fades is learning that fails.

So next time you launch a course, ask not just what it teaches, but what learners will still know, still do, and still believe a week later.