Spaced repetition
Also known as: Spaced learning, the forgetting curve
Spaced repetition means reviewing what was learned at increasing intervals, for example after a day, a week, and a month, so it moves into long-term memory. It works against the forgetting curve, the tendency to lose most new information within days unless it is reinforced. In corporate training it turns a one-off course into knowledge people still have when they need it.
The forgetting curve
Research going back to Hermann Ebbinghaus shows that people forget a large share of new information within days of learning it, unless they revisit it. Each review slows the forgetting, so the gaps between reviews can grow.
This is why a single annual course often leaves little behind by the time the knowledge is needed.
Using spaced repetition in training
After a course, send a few short questions a few days later, again after a couple of weeks, and again after a month or two. Focus on the points that matter most and that people get wrong.
Short modules and quick quizzes work well for this, which is why spaced repetition pairs naturally with microlearning.
Read the microlearning definition
Where it pays off most
It matters most for knowledge people use rarely but must get right, such as safety procedures, compliance rules, and emergency steps, and for topics tested before a certificate renewal.
Read the compliance training definition
Frequently asked questions
What is spaced repetition?
Reviewing learned material at increasing intervals, such as after a day, a week, and a month, so it stays in long-term memory.
What is the forgetting curve?
The pattern, first described by Hermann Ebbinghaus, in which people forget much of what they learn within days unless they revisit it.
How do you use spaced repetition in corporate training?
Follow a course with short questions or refreshers at growing intervals, focusing on the most important points and the ones people most often get wrong.
Does spaced repetition work for compliance training?
Yes. It helps people remember rules and procedures they rarely use but must get right, instead of forgetting them soon after the annual course.
What is the difference between spaced repetition and microlearning?
Microlearning is about short units of content. Spaced repetition is about when you review them. They work well together.