On paper, corporate training is a no-brainer. Companies with comprehensive training programs report 218% higher income per employee compared to those without. Leadership training alone can boost learning capacity by 25% and performance by 20%, while 90% of HR managers agree that training improves productivity, retention, and organizational growth. Yet, these benefits aren't guaranteed.
When training fails to meet employees' needs or isn't delivered effectively, companies waste valuable time, effort, and money. The reality is stark:
Only 12% of employees say they actually apply what they learn in job training, with ineffective programs costing organizations $13,500 annually per employee. And that's not counting the opportunity cost of lost productivity and unmet potential.
Ensuring that training is retained and applied requires deliberate strategies and the right tools. An LMS can bridge the gap between ambitious training goals and real-world outcomes, offering features that improve retention, translate knowledge into behavior, and drive measurable results.
Here are five effective learning strategies for improving retention and how an LMS can help your learners achieve lasting results.
1. Active and interactive learning
Active and interactive learning methods that engage learners through discussions, problem-solving, and hands-on activities have been shown to enhance knowledge retention. For example, a study published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education found that students who participated in discussion-based learning scored significantly better than those who underwent traditional lecture-based methods. By fostering active participation, learners process information more deeply and apply it more effectively.
Interactive elements like gamification, simulations, and quizzes further enrich the learning experience by enabling learners to apply and reinforce knowledge in a fun and memorable way.
An LMS can facilitate active and interactive learning by integrating features that encourage participation and application of knowledge, such as the following:
Practice-based and problem-based learning
Practice-based and problem-based learning immerses learners in realistic situations where they can apply their knowledge to practice. For instance, a technical training course might ask learners to troubleshoot a system failure, allowing them to hone their diagnostic skills while reinforcing theoretical knowledge. An LMS supports these methods with tools like case studies and task-oriented modules where learners analyze the problem, plan a solution or strategy, and submit them for peer or instructor feedback.
Gamification and simulations
Simulations allow learners to apply their knowledge in realistic situations. For instance, customer service training could include a simulation where learners interact with a virtual customer, making decisions based on real-life situations to solve problems and improve their approach.
Gamification features like leaderboards, badges, and achievement points create a sense of challenge and achievement, allow learners to track their progress, gain rewards, and motivate them to participate and complete tasks consistently.
Interactive assessments
Interactive assessments enhance engagement by requiring learners to apply their knowledge in real time. Hotspot questions, drag-and-drop, and fill-in-the-blank exercises challenge learners to recall and apply concepts while matching exercises and flashcards help reinforce key terms. Interactive video assessments prompt learners to make decisions based on the content.
By leveraging active and interactive learning, an LMS ensures learners don't just consume content but engage with it, apply it, and retain it long-term.
2. Spaced repetition
Spaced repetition is a learning method based on the idea that information is retained more effectively when reviewed just as the learner is about to forget it, thus strengthening neural connections and transferring knowledge from short-term to long-term memory. Studies have shown that spaced repetition can improve long-term retention by up to 200% compared to non-spaced tests.
An LMS can seamlessly implement spaced repetition through automated, personalized tools that adapt to individual learning progress. Here's how:
Automated review
An LMS can automate spaced repetition by suggesting revisiting past modules if a learner repeatedly struggles with a topic. Alternatively, an LMS can use a fixed timer, encouraging learners to review a module at designated intervals.
Adaptive learning
An LMS can tailor the curriculum to meet each learner's unique needs, e.g., reintroduce topics or questions answered incorrectly more frequently and space content that has been mastered further apart, providing targeted reinforcement. This approach ensures every learner spends time where it counts, boosting retention and optimizing the training process.
Notification and reminders
A notification system helps learners stay on track by sending timely automated reminders to review materials at optimal intervals. For example, a learner in a technical certification course might receive a reminder to review critical troubleshooting steps two weeks after initial learning, then again a month later, gradually increasing the intervals.
Managing spaced repetition for multiple learners can be tricky. LMS automates and personalizes this process, ensuring learners retain critical knowledge and skills long after the initial training session. The result is better knowledge retention, reduced cognitive overload, and greater ROI from training initiatives.
3. Microlearning
Microlearning delivers training content in small, focused chunks designed to meet specific learning objectives. The short format of microlearning makes it ideal for reinforcing knowledge, building skills incrementally, and addressing just-in-time learning needs. The research shows that bite-sized learning improves the transfer of learning from the classroom to the desk by 17%.
An LMS can be a powerful enabler of microlearning, offering tools to create and deliver content in digestible pieces that seamlessly integrate into the flow of work.
Bite-sized modules
In an LMS, you can create modules of any length, breaking training into short lessons or micro-courses, each focusing on a single concept or skill. For example, a sales training program might include 5-minute modules on handling objections, closing techniques, and product features.
Multimedia support
An LMS supporting various multimedia formats offers the flexibility to integrate slides, videos, audio snippets, infographics, or interactive quizzes to encourage learners to engage with knowledge in multiple ways. This variety helps learners process and retain information more effectively by reinforcing concepts through different modes of interaction. For instance, a safety training program might include an introductory video, followed by an interactive hazard identification quiz and a brief audio summary, ensuring deeper comprehension and retention.
Mobile learning
LMS mobile apps naturally lend themselves to delivering microlearning. Their portability allows learners to engage with short lessons during downtime, whether on a commute or during a break. Bite-sized videos, quick quizzes, or audio snippets fit seamlessly into a mobile-friendly interface, making learning convenient and accessible. For instance, employees could watch a 3-minute tutorial on workplace safety or complete a short product knowledge quiz directly from their smartphones.
Microlearning empowers organizations to deliver training that is not only effective but also fits seamlessly into the learner's workflow. The result is improved knowledge retention, higher engagement, and better overall training outcomes.
4. Contextual and story-based learning
According to cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner, a story is much more likely to be remembered than isolated facts. Narratives spark emotional engagement and activate multiple brain areas, helping learners visualize, empathize, and emotionally connect with the material. Similarly, real-life scenarios bridge the gap between knowledge and application, ensuring learners understand how to use what they've learned in their roles.
An LMS provides a versatile platform for creating and delivering immersive contextual learning experiences:
Story-based learning
The LMS multimedia tools enable trainers to combine video, audio, and text to craft compelling narratives. Learners might navigate through virtual environments, interact with characters, or solve challenges that progress the story. For example, a healthcare training course might include scenarios of patient triage in virtual emergencies, where learners must prioritize tasks and make critical decisions.
Role-playing
Role-playing scenarios allow learners to step into specific roles and practice decision-making or interpersonal skills through simulation tools, live role-play setups via video conferencing integrations, and custom scenario templates. For instance, customer service modules might include real-time chat simulations with AI-driven customer personas or live practice sessions with peer feedback built directly into the platform.
Branching scenarios
Advanced LMS systems offer branching pathways, where learners make decisions at critical junctures, leading to different outcomes. These pathways simulate cause-and-effect relationships they might encounter in real-world decision-making. Progress tracking and detailed analytics ensure trainers understand how learners navigate these scenarios and where they might need additional support. For example, in a cybersecurity course, learners might encounter simulated data breaches, and the consequences of their decisions are displayed immediately, offering insights into best practices.
Contextual and story-based learning enhances retention by making abstract concepts tangible and memorable. With an LMS, organizations can embed these methods into their training programs, building a more confident, capable workforce who can translate theory into impactful action.
5. Peer learning and feedback
Peer learning and feedback harness the power of collaboration to deepen understanding and boost retention. By teaching peers, learners clarify their own ideas and gain new insights. Studies show that collaborative learning enhances learners' achievement and knowledge retention scores. Feedback loops further cement concepts, improve skills, and increase motivation. This creates an active, community-driven learning environment where knowledge is shared, refined, and retained.
LMS offers some robust tools to foster collaboration, accountability, and constructive feedback:
Group projects
Learners can collaborate in small groups to work on assignments or solve problems. These group activities encourage teamwork and offer opportunities for learners to teach each other. For example, a marketing training module could include a project where learners work together to design a digital campaign, each contributing their knowledge to the final product.
Discussion forums, social feeds, and chats
Structured discussions in forum-style threads or real-time chats can substitute classroom interaction, where learners share ideas and solve problems collaboratively. For example, a dedicated forum could be used in a project management course to discuss real-life case studies or challenges learners encounter in their work.
Reflection and feedback
Reflection and feedback are key to reinforcing learning, helping learners identify areas for improvement, and adjusting their understanding. An LMS can facilitate this process by offering tools for instant feedback, such as quizzes, peer reviews, or instructor comments, while dashboards help them evaluate their progress, track milestones, and identify where they stand in their learning journey.
Peer learning and feedback encourage a deeper connection with the content, self-awareness, and continuous improvement. An LMS can streamline this process, offering tools that facilitate engagement and knowledge sharing, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills that improve performance in their roles.
Ensure long-lasting training impact with Opigno LMS
Incorporating the proven learning methods discussed above can dramatically improve how much your learners retain and apply new information and transform your training program from one-size-fits-all sessions to a dynamic, learner-centered experience. The result? Employees who not only remember more but can also apply their newfound knowledge effectively in their roles, driving better performance and growth for your organization.
Opigno LMS is designed to support your training initiatives with a versatile suite of features, including adaptive learning paths, microlearning, gamification, and cutting-edge social learning tools. No matter which learning techniques you implement, our platform empowers you to deliver impactful, engaging, and effective training programs that drive real, measurable results.
Ready to see how Opigno can transform your employee training? Book a call with our team today to learn more about our features and how we can help you create impactful learning experiences that pay off.
Published on January 7, 2025.