The 70:20:10 Model of Learning

Share on email
Share on linkedin
Share on twitter
Share on facebook
Share on pinterest
CM Learning - the 70_20_10 model

On-the-job, from others or through formal learning; take time to reflect on 70:20:10 and where your development comes from.

The 70:20:10 model of learning embraces the idea that:

  • 70% of learning happens on the job,

  • 20% of learning happens from those around us and

  • 10% of learning is done through formal training and education programmes.

CM Learning - the 70-20-10 Model of Learning

We forget more than we remember!

In 1885 Hermann Ebbinghaus studied the memory and found that within 20 minutes people forget more than 40% of what they learned and within an hour people forget about 56% of what they have learned and from there the ability to recall gets worse. It isn’t that we don’t want to learn, it is simply that our brains just aren’t that great at retaining information that we don’t use or practice in the time immediately after learning it.

On-demand learning (the 70 of 70:20:10)

This weakness in our brains means that one of the best ways to learn is on-demand, right when you can use it and practice it. This is why it is effective to use a model where 70% of the learning is in the moment and hands on. When companies get this right, they see a shift towards greater productivity and a lowering of the cost of and increased return on investment from development.

Learning from others (the 20 of 70:20:10)

The 20% of learning from those around us is invaluable (e.g. peers, co-workers, managers, coaching, feedback, mentoring, etc). This isn’t something that an organisation should force, but instead allow to happen naturally with a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing. When we know that we can rely and fall back on the experience of others, we are more confident and willing to push our boundaries to learn more effectively.

The importance of formal learning (the 10 of 70:20:10)

Though formal learning accounts for the final 10% of the model, it is still vital and important…but of course it needs to be quality learning with clear objectives and content that achieves them. Key to the formal learning, and most forgotten, is how it links to the 70% and 20% in terms of applying learning on-the-job and working with others to apply, embed and reflect on learning.
CM Learning - examples of 70-20-10

What do you do to develop yourself in these areas:

  • 70% – Learning from experience (trial and error, etc)

  • 20% – Learning from others (feedback, exchange of experiences, etc)

  • 10% – Learning from formal training and development

If you would like to hear more on 70:20:10 from Charles Jennings, founder of the 70:20:10 Forum, watch this great video from Fuse Universal.

CM Learning Blog | The Power of Reframing

The Power of Reframing

Challenges come at us from all angles. It’s easier sometimes to accept that ‘that’s the way it is’ and carry on allowing our negative mindset to compromise our feelings, thoughts, and actions…or is it? Enter, the power of reframing.

Read More »
CM Learning - The Dark Side of Mindfulness

The Dark Side of Mindfulness

Mindfulness has been heralded as one of the wonders of the wellbeing world. It’s widely proven to promote calmness, helping us be more present and encouraging reflective, introspective moments. Yet what is the dark side of mindfulness where we risk it being mis-used and therefore abused?

Read More »
Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 | Anxiety

Managing Anxiety at Work

Next month (15-21 May), is Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is…drumroll please and a not-so-warm welcome for…ANXIETY. A week of highlighting anxiety-related issues can only help to de-stigmatise talking about our own and others’ mental health, and I say bring it on.

Read More »
CM Learning Blog: Me and My Auto-pilot the origin story

Me and My Auto-Pilot: the origin story

I’ve never really talked at length about my emotional baggage and why I’m so passionate about helping people to switch off their internal auto-pilot to get to a stronger and more resilient mindset, yet like all of us, there is an origin story to be told.

Read More »
CM Learning Blog | Learning from Failure

Learning from Failure

Our auto-pilot mode makes it so natural to kick ourselves when we make a mistake, rather than consciously considering the growth that exists in learning from failure.

Read More »