The Forgetting Curve & Spaced Repetition
When building lessons or teaching concepts, it's commonly practiced to say what you're going to say, say it, and say what you just said.
This repetition is essential. It allows our brain to have repetition, to key into the fact that whatever the concept is, it is important.
But here's the fact that is often overlooked: Once the lesson is over, you must also revisit the concept again.
Yes, progression and the building of concepts is foundational. You can't fully understand how the human body works—its different systems, until you understand first that we are built of cells, and those cells are specialized, each with their purpose and skillset, and each cell is built of organelles also specialized for their task.
This building of concepts is essential for your students.
But so is the circling back—the chance to review foundational concepts.
When we give our students or clients a chance to review a previous concept, it gives them confirmation of learning, exposure that they are moving forward. They are able to say, "Yes, I remember that" or "I can do that" or "I need to review that."
To you, it may feel like backwards movement. But when done intentionally, it can boost forward momentum.
The Forgetting Curve: Why "I Taught It Once" Doesn't Work
Think back to when you were learning a new skill or concept—maybe a second language.
You had mastered easy nouns and verbs, and were moving to make simple sentences. Our brain exerts so much energy in these new steps of understanding. And by stepping back and confirming previous concepts, it speaks another endorphin that can propel us and give us energy.
Here's the uncomfortable truth: People forget 70% of new information within 24 hours without reinforcement.
Let me say that again: 70% within 24 hours.
So if you teach a concept in Week 1 and never revisit it, most of your students won't remember it by Week 2. And if they don't remember it, they can't build on it. And if they can't build on it, they can't progress.
This is the "I taught it once, they learned it" fallacy.
Exposure is not the same as retention. And retention is not the same as mastery.
Just because you said something doesn't mean students can do it. Just because they nodded along in the lesson doesn't mean they've internalized it. Just because they watched the video doesn't mean they can apply it.
Learning requires repetition. And most online courses don't build it in.
Why Spaced Repetition Matters
When I taught middle school science, I didn't teach the cell once and move on.
I taught it in Week 1. Then I spiraled back to it in Week 3 when we talked about tissues. Then again in Week 5 when we discussed organ systems. Then again in Week 8 when we explored genetics.
Same concept. Different context. Higher level each time.
That's spaced repetition. And it's how the human brain actually learns.
Our brains are designed to forget things we don't use. It's a survival mechanism—we can't hold onto every piece of information we encounter, so our brains filter out what seems unimportant.
Repetition signals importance.
When we encounter the same concept multiple times, in different contexts, at increasing levels of complexity, our brain says: "Oh, this matters. I need to remember this."
And that's when retention happens. That's when students move from "I heard about this" to "I can actually do this."
What This Looks Like in Online Courses
Here's where most online courses fail:
They're designed like a textbook. Linear. Sequential. Cover Chapter 1, move to Chapter 2, finish with Chapter 10. Done.
But that's not how learning works.
Learning is messy. It's circular. It's layered. You need to encounter concepts multiple times, in multiple ways, before they stick.
So if you teach a foundational concept in Module 1 and never bring it back, you're assuming students remember it. And statistically, they don't.
Here's what I mean:
Let's say you're teaching someone to build a business. In Module 1, you teach them how to identify their ideal client.
If you never revisit that concept, by the time they get to Module 4 (creating a marketing plan), they've forgotten the specifics of who their ideal client is. So they can't apply what you're teaching in Module 4, because the foundation from Module 1 is gone.
But if you build in spaced repetition:
Module 1: Identify your ideal client (introduction, foundational)
Module 2: When teaching about messaging, you say: "Remember your ideal client from Module 1? Now we're going to speak directly to their core problem."
Module 4: When teaching about marketing, you say: "Think back to your ideal client. Where do they spend their time? What do they care about? Let's build your marketing plan around that."
Module 6: When teaching about sales conversations, you say: "You've been refining your understanding of your ideal client throughout this course. Now let's use that knowledge to guide your sales process."
Same concept. Repeated at higher levels. Applied in new contexts.
That's how students actually retain and master what you're teaching.
How to Build Spaced Repetition Into Your Course
Here's the practical application:
Step 1: Identify your core concepts.
What are the 3-5 foundational ideas that students absolutely must remember long-term? Not every single thing you teach - just the core concepts that everything else builds on.
Step 2: Map where students encounter each concept.
How many times do they see it in your course? If the answer is "once," you have a retention problem.
Step 3: Build in at least 3 exposures for each core concept.
First exposure: Introduction and foundational teaching
Second exposure: Application in a new context or at a slightly higher level
Third exposure: Integration or synthesis - using the concept to solve a problem or complete a task
Each time, you're not just repeating yourself. You're deepening understanding. You're showing students how the concept applies in different situations. You're helping them build mastery.
What This Means for Your Students (And Your Business)
When you build spaced repetition into your course design, here's what happens:
Students actually remember what you teach.
They don't get to Week 5 and feel lost because they forgot what you taught in Week 1. They don't finish your course and immediately forget everything. They retain it. They can apply it. They get results.
Students feel confident.
When you circle back to previous concepts, students get confirmation: "Yes, I remember that. I can do that." It's a momentum boost. It reinforces that they're learning, they're progressing, they're capable.
Students complete your course.
Because they're not lost. They're not confused. They're not wondering if they missed something critical. The repetition creates clarity and builds confidence, so they keep going.
And that creates the kind of course that transforms students - and sustains your business.
Because when students finish, implement, and get results? They come back. They refer others. They become your best marketing.
You can't build that on "I taught it once and moved on."
Your Turn: Add Spaced Repetition to Your Course
Here's what I want you to do:
Pick one key concept from your course that students absolutely must remember long-term.
Now ask yourself: How many times do they encounter it?
If the answer is once, map out 3 different moments where you could bring that concept back:
In a new context
At a higher level
With a different application
Reply and tell me: Where are you adding repetition?
Did this reveal gaps in your course design? Did it show you places where students might be forgetting foundational concepts? Did it clarify how to build retention into your teaching?
This one shift - from single exposure to spaced repetition- can dramatically improve student outcomes.
Because learning doesn't happen in one moment. It happens over time, with intentional repetition.
And that's what separates courses that inform from courses that transform.
Want to go deeper into designing courses that actually transform students? Join my newsletter where I break down the pedagogy, leadership, and business systems that make online education work—without the hype, without the shortcuts, just the educational architecture that lasts.
Or if you're ready to audit your existing course and identify exactly what's missing, book a free 20-minute Office Hours call or a Strategy Session. Let's figure out what's really going on.
