Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/2-1-3-the-forgetting-curve [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [Teacher CPD](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd.md) › [CPD: Cognitive Science for Teachers - Seneca Certified Educator](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator.md) › The Forgetting Curve # The Forgetting Curve CPD: Cognitive Science Level 1, topic 2.1.3 ## Ebbinghaus' Experiment In 1885, Hermann Ebbinghaus used himself as the subject of a study about memory strength. ### Methodology ![Methodology](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/27b953cf-9db4-4813-bf60-7fb7d47b02b2/words-letters-.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-11/721c83ff-0d93-4946-99aa-d6abc2916b25/forgetting-curve-ebbinghaus-neuro-neuroscience-%20(2).png) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-11/721c83ff-0d93-4946-99aa-d6abc2916b25/forgetting-curve-ebbinghaus-neuro-neuroscience-%20(2).png) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/dfce0b21-cf4c-42bf-b44b-7510a886af81/smiley-emotions-.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/f7026e11-6afd-45be-b939-dcc2ae53e0e9/forgetful-man-forget.jpg) - 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 ## Test yourself on The Forgetting Curve - On whose experiment is the forgetting curve based? - When was Ebbinghaus' experiment published for the first time? - Which are true about Ebbinghaus' experiment? - Is this the correct shape of the forgetting curve on a positive linear scale? - Which of these effective techniques was originally proposed by Ebbinghaus? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/9f6bf15c-23fe-401c-810a-3bc66d761885/section/41e1226e-8872-4590-8225-499963e4cd6e/session) - Previous topic: [2.1.2 Desirable Difficulties](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/2-1-2-desirable-difficulties.md) - Next topic: [3.1.1 CLT](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/3-1-1-clt.md) ## CPD: Cognitive Science Level 1 contents ### 1 Memory - 1.1 Memory Processing - [1.1.1 Overview of Memory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/1-1-1-overview-of-memory.md) - [1.1.2 Memory Processing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/1-1-2-memory-processing.md) - 1.2 Types of Memory - [1.2.1 Types of Memory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/1-2-1-types-of-memory.md) - [1.2.2 Working Memory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/1-2-2-working-memory.md) ### 2 How Do We Learn? - 2.1 Neural Model of Learning - [2.1.1 Neural Model of Learning](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/2-1-1-neural-model-of-learning.md) - [2.1.2 Desirable Difficulties](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/2-1-2-desirable-difficulties.md) - [2.1.3 The Forgetting Curve](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/2-1-3-the-forgetting-curve.md) ### 3 Cognitive Load Theory - 3.1 CLT - [3.1.1 CLT](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/3-1-1-clt.md) - [3.1.2 Background Knowledge](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/3-1-2-background-knowledge.md) ### 4 Effective Strategies - 4.1 Rosenshine's Principles - [4.1.1 Rosenshine's Top 1-5](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/4-1-1-rosenshines-top-1-5.md) - [4.1.2 Rosenshine's 6-10](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/4-1-2-rosenshines-6-10.md) - 4.2 Dunlosky's Strategies - [4.2.1 Dunlosky's Strategies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/4-2-1-dunloskys-strategies.md) - 4.3 Dylan Wiliam - [4.3.1 Dylan Wiliam](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/4-3-1-dylan-wiliam.md) - 4.4 Daniel Willingham - [4.4.1 Daniel Willingham](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/4-4-1-daniel-willingham.md) - 4.5 The Learning Scientists - [4.5.1 The Learning Scientists](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/4-5-1-the-learning-scientists.md) - [4.5.2 Practical Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-cognitive-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified-educator/4-5-2-practical-ideas.md)