Most people study in ways that feel comfortable but do not work. Highlighting, rereading and memorising notes create the illusion of learning but result in poor long-term retention. Learners forget up to 70% of material within 24 hours because the brain has not been properly challenged.
This is why modern learning needs scientifically proven methods that engage memory, encourage active thinking and create deeper connections. The problem is that traditional classrooms, rigid timetables and outdated training resources rarely allow these strategies to be used effectively. Learners are often pushed forward before they have mastered the content, while organisations struggle to deliver personalised approaches at scale.
What are the solutions?
Cognitive science has identified four strategies that dramatically improve learning:
-
Spaced repetition – reviewing material at carefully timed intervals to strengthen memory
-
Active recall – testing yourself rather than passively rereading
-
Elaborative interrogation – asking why something is true and linking it to prior knowledge
-
Interleaving – mixing topics and formats to force the brain to distinguish and connect ideas
Together these approaches can improve retention by up to 200%.
Watch the video below to see exactly how they work in practice and how AI can bring them seamlessly into your study or training.
Why these findings are important
Research shows that passive methods such as rereading and highlighting improve test performance by less than 1 per cent. Yet they remain the most common study approach. By contrast, proven methods such as spaced repetition, active recall, elaborative interrogation and interleaving deliver significantly higher retention and understanding.
AI now allows these techniques to be embedded into eLearning platforms automatically. Learners are tested, prompted and supported in ways that match how the brain naturally retains knowledge. For organisations, this means improved training outcomes, better compliance results and more efficient learning delivery.
How Open eLMS can help
Open eLMS makes it simple to apply the four most effective learning strategies directly within your training programmes:
-
Spaced repetition – The Open eLMS LMS tracks learner progress and automatically notifies and recommends learning to users when they are due to revisit material. This ensures concepts are reviewed at optimal intervals, strengthening memory over time.
-
Active recall – The Open eLMS Learning Generator creates interactive quizzes, knowledge checks and gamified learning experiences from your source material. Learners are prompted to retrieve information continuously, reinforcing recall while staying engaged.
-
Elaborative interrogation – The AI chat system is trained exclusively on your course content, prompting learners with tailored follow-up questions such as “why does this work?” or “how does this link to what you studied earlier?” This encourages deeper thinking and stronger connections between ideas.
-
Interleaving – The Learning Generator exports the same material into multiple formats, from PowerPoint slides to eLearning modules, gamified challenges and podcasts. Learners encounter the same concepts across different contexts, mixing topics and formats to enhance mastery.
By embedding these four strategies into everyday study, Open eLMS ensures learners do not just consume information but actually retain and apply it.
You can try both for free below:
Open eLMS Learning Generator Free Trial
Open eLMS LMS Free Trial
Where does this leave us?
If almost every learner relies on methods that do not work, yet the science and technology to fix it already exist, the challenge is clear. Will learners continue with ineffective habits, or take advantage of AI learning strategies that genuinely improve study results?
