Have you ever completed a training session and wondered if the training actually “stuck” with the learner? Have you ever wondered if the content or experience resonated enough to create a memorable impact?

Fostering learning retention has become even more challenging in our post-COVID world since remote and hybrid work environments demanded more options than the typical classroom approach. Many organizations have adapted to offer remote learning, virtual instructor-led training (VILT), self-paced and asynchronous content; however, those modalities may not always guarantee successful retention. So, the question is, how do learning leaders deliver memorable learning experiences?

While this list is not all-inclusive, let’s take a look at ways to make learning stick through both transformational and traditional learning strategies and practices.

Transformational Learning

According to “Designing & Leading Life-Changing Workshops,” transformational learning is designed to serve one’s whole self through mind-body integration. Learning impact continues beyond the learning event when participants learn through direct experience and active, conscious involvement.

Consider integrating the learner’s mind and body into the learning experience by including an intentional activity prior to the learning session that guides learners through one of the following examples of breathwork, movement or mindfulness:

1. Three deep breaths. Invite learners to take a moment to regulate their breathing prior to engaging in the learning topics. Three conscious deep breaths help the learner (and the facilitator) reset, relax and become present.
2. Body movement. Give your learners 30-60 seconds to move their bodies. For some, it may mean rolling their shoulders, walking in place or simply stretching their arms. Allow them to find what feels good. The movement will increase energy levels and often break the ice for your learners. In fact, research shows that movement and memory go hand in hand.
3. Intention setting. Create space for the learner to identify what they would like to gain from the training session by stating their learning intention in one phrase. Check in at the end of the session to confirm that their intentions were met (this can be done vocally during live training or via chat function with virtual training).

While there are many ways to increase mindfulness and awareness, for transformational outcomes, participants also desire direct meaningful experiences and active, conscious involvement. By creating this impact during live in-person or virtual training sessions, learners will recall more of what they learned, and just as important, how they felt while they were learning it.

Traditional Learning

When we think about the traditional strategies that still hold, there are a few practices that come to mind that are highly effective.

For virtual instructor-led training (VILT) or in-person classroom learning opportunities, here are some suggestions:

1. Engaging your audience from the start. Talk about why the topic is relevant or tell a story. Adult learners need to understand the “why.” Use the power of data or compelling facts that will create interest for your learners. Generate even more interest by embracing the power of your passion and enthusiasm for the subject.
2. Put care into the presentation and design of learning content. Create creative, memorable visuals. Images, data and information need to be presented in a format that keeps the audience’s attention. Be mindful of the organization’s brand requirements and use relevant images. If the training is internal (not client or customer facing), there may be more flexibility in how presentations are designed.
3. Create a safe space for learning. Review participation ground rules at the beginning which remind learners to have fun and engage while being respectful and mindful of others. Establish guidelines for how to best interact with the material as well as the other participants and provide intentional opportunities to interact and share. Incorporate humor into the session when possible.
4. Repeat key concepts throughout a training session to help improve learning retention. is very effective for learning retention. In fact, based on the Ebbinhaus forgetting curve, it is probably better to space training over a few days with shorter sessions than putting all of the material into a longer single session. Deliver follow-up activities or assessments over time that reiterate the training.

In addition, when creating just about any type of learning program, some best practices to incorporate include using multiple learning channels, spaced learning (as referenced in the section above), knowing what interests and motivates the participants, and associating the info with real-life scenarios that will resonate with adult learners.

Using multiple learning methods will provide a variety of approaches to learning, whether it is some combination of formal training and other methods such as videos, simulations, on-the-job training or microlearning.

Making learning stick is an art that combines various techniques and strategies to enhance knowledge retention. Experiment with these methods and more to discover which best resonates with you and your style of teaching. Actively planning and engaging in the experience that you strive for your learners to have, can lead to meaningful outcomes for the teacher and the learner.