What is the Forgetting Curve
by Nora Duncan O'Brien
Human brains are designed to forget -no need to hoard information (and take up valuable brain space) on concepts that are not relevant, useful, or necessary. Hermann Ebbinghaus dedicated research to why people forget things and created “The Forgetting Curve.” If people do not actively work to retain information they forget it -at a surprising rate. In an article, Brain Science, the Forgetting Curve, Art Kohn writes that people typically lose half of new information in one hour, 70% after 24 hours, and 90% after one week. Ebbinghaus and Kohn note that material that is at least slightly familiar has a better chance of retention.
Behavioral Studies show that the Forgetting Curve can be reduced with strategies such as repetition, spiral learning, and other approaches. Human brains are designed to learn through association (familiarity with the topic), practice, and repetition.
Spiral Learning is a method of teaching that revisits themes and concepts throughout the years, building on the previous knowledge and adjusting the material by age and understanding to offset some of the forgetting curve.
Repetition is straightforward. A UC San Diego, Spaced Practice, explains why spaced repetition, created with intention, is more effective than ‘cramming’ information when one needs to know it, for example at exam time!
Systems and processes help people manage information overload and live lives with intention rather than in a permanently reactionary mode losing the battle to the Forgetting Curve.
One of the seeds of Whyfully’s origin was that it feels near impossible to retain beneficial parenting information when it is needed most. It is hard because:
Parents are not knee-deep in the stage when they originally come across info pertinent to that stage. Taking a Lamaze class six years before one has a baby may not be as beneficial as taking one six months before they have a baby. Parents may not have baseline knowledge important for spiral learning or they may lack familiarity with the topic.
There is so.much.information.
Today’s parents are busier than ever, making the forgetting curve stronger than ever.
Articles, books, classes, and videos lack the repetition of the knowledge necessary to help it stick.
Whyfully offers themes and ideas woven throughout families’ lives. Parents are not the only beneficiaries of spiral learning and repetition -kids benefit from conversations about ideas to build social and emotional strength through repetition and spiral learning.
Families can utilize tactics like spiral learning and repetition to help their messages stick with kids. Grappling with a vastly greater amount of information today, kids are used to receiving concepts in bite-sized chunks rather than three-course meals. Discussions about important topics are more easily digested when served in smaller and more frequent doses. Human brains are designed to learn through association (familiarity with the topic), practice, and repetition because human brains are designed to forget.