You often deal with the topic of learning? Then you surely know that breaks are important for learning success. However, it was not until June 2021 that an exciting experiment investigated brain waves during learning to question this thesis. What the results mean for training and coaching, we summarize in the article.

The Spacing Effect: Learning with Breaks

Almost every trainer knows: Breaks are important. During breaks, our brain continues to work, without us noticing it. Therefore, good training programs are structured so that learning takes place in short segments. Particularly when acquiring skills, the rule is: Practice – Break – Practice – Break.

You might also know the Spacing Effect (or Interval Effect): This states that we are more likely to forget things and events the longer they have passed. Therefore, we should incorporate repetitions into our learning, ideally with increasing intervals. In between, there are always breaks.

Start now with your own learning platform!

Try blink.it for FREE for 30 days with all features. Just click on the image - let's go!

However, it was only recently proven in a study by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke from the USA that real learning through repetition occurs in the brain during these learning breaks. The study is Open Access, so you can read it completely here (in English) as a PDF. The title of the study: Consolidation of human skill linked to waking hippocampo-neocortical replay.

If you want to shorten it: We explain the study in German and summarize what the results mean for trainers and coaches.

Summary of the Study

In the experiment, participants were to type the numbers 41324 on a keyboard as quickly and accurately as possible with one hand. For this, they had repeated 10 seconds of practice time followed by 10 seconds of breaks. You can imagine that this is a typical task that you become better at through practice. The question now is: What happens in the participants' brains during the break time?

To answer this, brain waves (in the hippocampus and neocortex) were measured throughout the entire time. The results have been illustrated by the authors of the study in this very clear graphic:

Graphic open access, taken from cell.com: Summary of the study by Ethan R.Buch et al. (June 2021)

In the graphic, you can see that during the 10-second breaks, so-called “Micro-offline gains” occur: Although – or rather because – we do not practice during this time, our skill level increases during this break period. And indeed, it increases significantly more than during the actual practice time! The brain imaging shows that during the break time, several areas are working hard, repeating what has been learned (“Waking replay”).

Another note: The term is “Waking replay,” thus repetition in the waking state. It is known that we process experiences and learn while we sleep, and this can be found in other studies besides the one mentioned here. This study explicitly deals with breaks in the waking state.

Ideally, we use both daytime breaks and nighttime sleep to consolidate what we have learned.

What We Can Learn from the Study for Training

How can you apply the study results to your daily routine – especially as a trainer and organizer of training or coaching? On one hand, you should examine your training specifically with regard to breaks: How short are your learning units? How many breaks do your participants have? As a rough guideline, you can remember: The more breaks, the better! This applies to in-person events just as much as to online training.

You can make particularly good use of the study results with microlearning: With this learning method, breaks are practically programmed. The principle "Practice – Break – Practice – Break" fits excellently with the microlearning idea of learning in small portions.

On the other hand, this study again provides evidence that blended learning is better than purely in-person learning or purely online learning. Because here, too, breaks are an essential part of the learning concept: Instead of an 8-hour day seminar, you divide your learning content into in-person parts and e-learning content. This way, you automatically build breaks between the learning sections.

The most suitable blended learning model is the Springer, combined with micro-learning units. With this model, you ensure as many breaks as possible and learning over a longer period of time. It looks something like this:

The Blended Learning Model "Springer": Alternating between in-person and online content.

Conclusion: The mix of short learning units, breaks, and learning spread over a longer period is in practice and in science the most effective method. Our tip: Take the time to consciously examine your existing training concerning these three points and adjust if necessary. This way, your participants will achieve the best possible learning success!

Free Guide

The Ultimate Microlearning Guide for Online Courses

Do you want to incorporate more breaks into your training for a higher learning effect? Then get our free guide on microlearning! With many examples and helpful expert tips.

To the free microlearning guide