Have you ever wondered why some information sticks with us long after we've learned it, while other details seem to disappear almost as soon as we hear them? It's a curious aspect of our memory that can be both fascinating and, at times, frustrating.

Consider this: You've just completed an online course, feeling confident in your grasp of the material, only to discover that much of what you learned seems to evaporate in the days that follow.

This phenomenon is all too familiar to many of us, and it presents a unique challenge for those of us in the field of Learning & Development (L&D) and eLearning content creation.

Our goal is to create courses that not only engage learners but also ensure that the information sticks.

But why is it that, despite our learners' engagement and intentions, so much of the content we deliver seems to vanish from their memory? The truth is, while the human brain is incredibly complex and capable, it isn't the perfect storage device we might hope for.

Learners' engagement with the material doesn't necessarily equate to long-term retention, which can be frustrating for both the learners, who are eager to retain what they've learned and for us, who invest considerable effort into creating meaningful educational experiences.

So, what's the solution? How do we design our eLearning courses to ensure that the key concepts not only resonate with our learners but also stick with them well beyond the completion of a module or course?

It may seem like a daunting task, but there are effective, science-backed strategies that can enhance the memorability of your eLearning content.

Here are the top strategies you should consider incorporating into your course design to make learning experiences more impactful and memorable: 

1) Memory Varies Based on Interests 

Memory retention is significantly influenced by personal interests; we're more likely to remember information that captivates us and forget what doesn't.

This phenomenon occurs because engaging content activates more areas of the brain, enhancing the encoding and retrieval process. Therefore, aligning training with learners' interests can dramatically improve their ability to remember and apply new information.

Now, you might be thinking, "I've heard this advice before." Yet, the transformative element in this approach is empathy—stepping into the shoes of your learners to truly understand their needs and interests.

Remember, while achieving business objectives with your course is essential, the core of any learning endeavor should be its participants.

To turn this understanding of memory and interest into practical outcomes, here are actionable steps to implement:

• Identify Learner Interests: Start with a survey or poll to gather information on your learners' hobbies, interests, and what they find engaging. Use this data to tailor the course content.

• Use Varied Formats Based on Preferences:

  • If learners prefer videos, incorporate more multimedia elements.

  • For those who enjoy reading, provide detailed text explanations or stories.

  • Interactive learners? Include quizzes, simulations, or games

• Personalize Learning Paths: Offer different paths within your course that cater to various interests. This could mean having optional modules that learners can choose based on what appeals to them most.

• Engage with Real-World Examples: Use case studies or scenarios that reflect the interests of your learners. This not only makes the learning more relevant but also more memorable.

Read more: The #1 Way to Engage Adult Learners? Be Relevant

2) Learners Have Lots of Things Competing for Their Attention

Navigating the crowded landscape of our learners' attention spans demands a strategic approach, especially in an era where digital distractions are omnipresent. 

The Microsoft Attention Spans Research Report underscores a pivotal challenge for eLearning developers: maintaining learner focus amidst a sea of competing stimuli. It outlines three distinct types of attention—sustained, selective, and alternating—each requiring a nuanced strategy for effective learning engagement.

Read more: These Are The Reasons Why Learners Forget Your Training

Sustained Attention: Engaging Deep Focus

Sustained attention is the ability to focus on one activity or piece of information for a prolonged period, despite potential distractions. It's crucial for deep learning and understanding complex concepts.

To foster sustained attention in your eLearning courses, consider these strategies:

• Bite-Sized Learning: Break down complex information into short, digestible modules that learners can tackle without feeling overwhelmed.

• Engagement Through Media: Incorporate engaging visuals and videos to simplify concepts and maintain interest.

• Personalization: Tailor content to meet the specific interests and needs of your learners, making it relevant and compelling.

• Actionable Insights: Ensure that each learning module delivers clear, actionable takeaways that learners can apply immediately.

Selective Attention: Cutting Through the Noise

Selective attention requires learners to focus on what's important while ignoring distractions. Achieve this by:

• Simplification: Keep your content straightforward and avoid clutter that can detract from the main message.

• Distraction-Free Design: Use clean, focused design elements that emphasize key points without unnecessary flair.

• Regain Focus Techniques: Introduce periodic engagement hooks, such as quizzes or interactive elements, to recapture attention.

Alternating Attention: Mastering the Art of Switching Focus

Alternating attention is the capability to switch focus between tasks or pieces of information quickly. It's vital in environments where learners need to assimilate and act upon diverse sets of information efficiently. 

To assist learners in enhancing their alternating attention, consider implementing the following approaches:

• Storytelling: Use compelling narratives to make key points memorable and engaging.

• Visual Directives: Utilize visual cues and infographics to guide learners to the most critical information swiftly.

• Concise Language: Craft content that is direct and to the point, removing any superfluous details.

• Calls to Action: Embed clear calls to action throughout the course, reminding learners of the practical applications of their newfound knowledge.

3) People Remember Better What They DO

Active participation enhances memory retention significantly. Adults thrive in learning environments where they can experience and apply knowledge firsthand. This method proves more effective for long-term retention compared to passive receipt of information. Therefore, it's crucial to design eLearning experiences that encourage learners to engage actively with the content.

Public speakers and seasoned presenters leverage this principle effectively, and it's an essential strategy for eLearning developers as well. The essence of learning skills, such as driving or acquiring a new language, lies in the practical application of knowledge.

To foster a more engaging and effective learning experience, consider these strategies:

• Interactive Activities: Ensure your courses require learners to actively apply what they're learning, either during or immediately following the lesson. This could include simulations, interactive case studies, or real-life projects.

• Problem-Solving Challenges: Incorporate open-ended questions and scenarios that prompt learners to use their critical thinking skills. Facilitate discussions where learners can compare their solutions, fostering a deeper understanding and retention of the content.

• Problem-Solving Challenges: Incorporate open-ended questions and scenarios that prompt learners to use their critical thinking skills. Facilitate discussions where learners can compare their solutions, fostering a deeper understanding and retention of the content.

• Set Clear Expectations: Highlight the practical application of course content in their professional roles. Citing research from Penn State, emphasize that anticipation of needing information in the future boosts retention. Make it known that the knowledge gained will be applied in their job tasks, enhancing motivation to remember and use the information.

• Sustained Engagement: Design a follow-up program that extends learning beyond the initial training. Incorporate activities, refreshers, or discussion prompts post-training to reinforce and build upon the initial learning. Utilize various formats like polls, infographics, or reflective questions to maintain interest and engagement.

4) Students Remember the Last Thing They Learned

Retroactive interference happens because our brains can only handle so much information at once, leading to the forgetting of older information as new data comes in. This isn't necessarily a setback but rather an opportunity to ensure that the most crucial, recent learnings are retained and applied.

Leverage this principle to your advantage with the following strategies:

1. Emphasize Key Takeaways: At the end of each learning session, highlight the most important points again. This reinforcement helps ensure that these key takeaways are the freshest in the learner's mind, making them more likely to be remembered.

2. Structured Recap Sessions: Incorporate brief recap sessions at the beginning of each new learning module. This not only reinforces previous learnings but also prepares the brain to connect new information with what was learned last.

3. Focused Content Delivery: Streamline your content to focus on the essentials. Avoid overwhelming learners with too much information at once, and instead, deliver content in clear, manageable segments that emphasize the most critical concepts.

4. Timely Reinforcement: Use spaced repetition, a technique where review sessions are strategically spaced over time. This method helps combat retroactive interference by periodically refreshing older information alongside introducing new concepts.

5. Leverage Technology: Use eLearning platforms to send out daily or weekly reminders, tips, or quizzes related to the most recent lessons. These can serve as effective nudges to keep the new information active in learners' minds.

6. Encourage Self-Reflection: Ask learners to reflect on how the new information or skills could be applied to their daily tasks or challenges. This reflection helps solidify the learning and makes it more personal and relevant.

By integrating these strategies into your eLearning design, you can make the most of the natural tendency of the brain to favor recent information, ensuring that new, beneficial behaviors and knowledge are not only learned but retained and applied.

Also read: This is how you combat retroactive interference.

5) People Learn Better When Their Senses and Emotions Are Engaged

Our brains are hardwired to better encode and recall experiences that engage multiple senses and evoke emotions. This phenomenon is rooted in the multisensory integration process, where the brain combines information from different sensory modalities, enhancing memory and learning.

Visual elements often have the strongest impact due to the brain's preference for processing visual information, known as the "pictorial superiority effect." Moreover, emotional arousal triggers the amygdala, a brain structure involved in memory, ensuring that emotionally charged experiences are more readily remembered.

Here's how to tap into multisensory and emotional learning for more effective training:

1. Incorporate Rich Visuals: Utilize high-quality images, videos, and animations to convey concepts. Visual aids not only grab attention but also help learners process information faster and retain it longer.

2. Stimulate the Senses: Beyond visuals, integrate audio narratives, music, or even tactile interactions if possible. This could mean using interactive simulations or augmented reality experiences that engage touch, hearing, and sight simultaneously.

3. Evoke Emotions: Craft content that resonates emotionally with your learners. This could be through storytelling that includes characters or scenarios your learners can empathize with, or by connecting learning material to real-world issues that stir emotions.

4. Leverage Color and Design: Utilize color psychology and thoughtful design to make learning materials more appealing and memorable. Different colors can evoke different emotions and highlight important information, aiding in memory retention.

6) The Right Sequence of Delivery Makes a Huge Difference

The sequencing of information plays a critical role in how effectively learners process, understand, and recall course material. This concept is grounded in the Serial Position Effect, a psychological phenomenon that suggests people tend to remember the first (primacy effect) and last (recency effect) items in a series better than those in the middle.

The structure of a course, akin to the composition of an essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion, leverages this effect to enhance memory retention. Furthermore, cognitive psychology underlines the importance of organizing information in ways that reflect how our brains naturally categorize and store data, facilitating easier retrieval from long-term memory.

Here are actionable strategies to optimize the sequencing and organization of your eLearning content:

1. Chunk Information: Break down complex information into manageable "chunks." Group related concepts together to make the content easier to digest and remember. Aim for no more than seven items per group to avoid overwhelming the working memory.

2. Use Meaningful Categorization: Organize content into categories that reflect learners' existing knowledge or perceptions. This approach aligns with how our memory works, making new information more relatable and easier to integrate.

3. Employ Mnemonics: Introduce mnemonic devices to help learners remember lists or complex information. Mnemonics create associations between new knowledge and what learners already know, facilitating recall.

4. Incorporate Active Recall: Throughout the course, include activities that require learners to recall information previously introduced. This could be through quizzes, flashcards, or summary tasks at the end of each module.

5. Leverage the Power of Storytelling: Present information within the context of a story or scenario. Stories naturally follow a memorable sequence (beginning, middle, end) and can make abstract concepts more concrete and memorable.

6. Repeat Key Concepts: Strategically revisit crucial points throughout the course to combat the forgetting curve and strengthen memory traces.

Read more: Make It Hard to Forget: 6 Principles to Help Your Learners Remember Anything

Creating an engaging and effective eLearning course is no small feat. It's about much more than just sharing information—it's about making sure that information sticks. By understanding the intricacies of memory, we can significantly boost the impact of our training programs. So, as you dive into designing or tweaking your next eLearning module, consider how deeply memory plays into learning.

It's not just about the content; it's about crafting experiences that resonate and endure.

But let's not end the conversation here. I'd love to hear your thoughts:

• How do you currently incorporate memory-enhancing techniques into your eLearning courses?

• Have you noticed a difference in learner engagement or retention with certain strategies?

• What challenges do you face in making your courses both informative and memorable?

Feel free to share your experiences and insights in the comments below. Let's learn from each other and keep pushing the boundaries of what eLearning can achieve!