Learning‘s Lasting Impression

Learners enter a learning situation with an established set of knowledge and ideas. Existing knowledge is held together through logical connections, based on experiences. New knowledge competes with the existing knowledge and is not automatically accepted or stored. It is accepted through repetition, variety, application, and relevance.

How do we override existing ideas, patterns, and concepts?
Learning is a cumulative process. Through repetition, new information is remembered and used. A common rule of thumb is that a person must have seven (7) exposures to new information before it is committed to long-term memory. Learning something under extreme stress is much more automatic. For example, getting your finger cut from a sharp knife in a sink full of water automatically makes you think twice about putting your hands in the water again without knowing that there are no knives in it.

Variety improves knowledge retention through the use of more than one sense. Blended learning strategies provide these variations through the use of different media. The combination of reading the information with hearing an instructor’s voice and watching the instructor’s presentation and receiving immediate feedback while applying the new information greatly increases the imprint of the information on the mind. Immediate feedback to exercises and assessments allows the learner to rethink the information, which again increases retention.

Application and relevance of new knowledge are closely linked. It is not enough for the learner to apply new information during learning. In order for the learner to place the information into long-term memory, the application of it must feel important. And again, just like the knife in the water, the more important the information feels to the learner, the quicker the information will take hold and be used. Anything that forces the learner to apply new knowledge in a logical process that is relevant to their job greatly enhances the imprint of the new information.

Some ways to enhance the knowledge transfer include:
• Assessments/exercises offering immediate feedback
• E-mail messages that put new information in front of the learner prior to or immediately following the learning sessions increases the repetition factor
• Blended learning offers the material in multi-sensory ways provides variety
• Incorporating tasks and decisions the learner makes on a regular basis into the learning highly increases the retention factor by showing relevance

Developing training that uses multiple senses and includes exercises that require the learner to apply some logical thinking, in relation to presently performed tasks, is the best way to assure the information is remembered and actually put to use.