2.1.3

The Forgetting Curve

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Complete the interactive activities in the Seneca app to work towards your CPD certificate.

Ebbinghaus' Experiment

In 1885, Hermann Ebbinghaus used himself as the subject of a study about memory strength.

Methodology

Methodology

  • Ebbinghaus randomly generated thousands of nonsensical words and attempted to memorise them all.
  • He repeatedly tested his own ability to recall the words at different time points.
  • His performance can be represented in a graph.
Results

Results

  • This graph is now called "The Forgetting Curve".
  • The results of the experiment showed that, although performance may be very good right after practice, it will rapidly decrease with time.
  • However, if practised over and over again, the information will be forgotten more and more slowly.
  • In conclusion, the more a piece of content is revisited, the less likely it is it will be forgotten.
The forgetting curve

The forgetting curve

  • The red curve shows the loss of memory when the content has not been revisited.
  • Each subsequent curve shows memory loss after revisiting the next day.

Factors Influencing the Forgetting Curve

Some factors can modify the rate of forgetting.

Factors

Factors

  • The relevance of the information.
  • Emotional characteristics of the information to be learned.
  • Age of person.
  • Type of information being learned.
Reducing the amount of forgetting

Reducing the amount of forgetting

  • Some techniques can be used to reduce the rate of forgetfulness.
    • Linking the to-be-remembered information to prior knowledge or personal experiences.
    • Revisiting past topics (original conclusion by Ebbinghaus)
    • Frequent low-stake quizzes
Jump to other topics
1

Memory

1.1

Memory Processing

1.1.1Overview of Memory1.1.2Memory Processing
1.2

Types of Memory

1.2.1Types of Memory1.2.2Working Memory
2

How Do We Learn?

2.1

Neural Model of Learning

2.1.1Neural Model of Learning2.1.2Desirable Difficulties2.1.3The Forgetting Curve
3

Cognitive Load Theory

3.1

CLT

3.1.1CLT3.1.2Background Knowledge
4

Effective Strategies

4.1

Rosenshine's Principles

4.1.1Rosenshine's Top 1-54.1.2Rosenshine's 6-10
4.2

Dunlosky's Strategies

4.2.1Dunlosky's Strategies
4.3

Dylan Wiliam

4.3.1Dylan Wiliam
4.4

Daniel Willingham

4.4.1Daniel Willingham
4.5

The Learning Scientists

4.5.1The Learning Scientists4.5.2Practical Ideas

Practice questions on The Forgetting Curve

Can you answer these? Complete these activities in the Seneca app to progress towards your certificate.

  1. 1
    On whose experiment is the forgetting curve based?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    When was Ebbinghaus' experiment published for the first time?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which are true about Ebbinghaus' experiment?True / false
  4. 4
    Is this the correct shape of the forgetting curve on a positive linear scale?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    Factors that can influence the forgetting curve:Fill in the list
Answer all questions on The Forgetting Curve

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Desirable Difficulties

CLT