Forgetting isn’t usually thought of in relation to learning, but as it turns out, it might play a role.
Herman Ebbinghaus, a German experimental psychologist from the late 19th and early 20th century, was (seemingly) curious about the way people remembered. (And thus forgot.)
What made our good man Herman unique though was in his method of study–or rather his focus group. That is, himself.
Among other projects, Dr. Ebbinghaus designed 2300 nonsense syllables–consonant-vowel-consonant patterns, arranged in lists to be memorized by the Doctor himself. This model continues in use in memory and neurological study today.
He is also known for his ideas on the rate of forgetting, claiming that 90% of what is learned is forgotten by learners within 30 days–often within hours.
The infographic below reviews some of his ideas–how we remember–and how quickly we forget.
This is a cross-post from Online Colleges
