Psychology · A design checklist that applies to any session length; spacing works best across multiple sessions or days.

AGES Model

The AGES model summarises four conditions from memory research that help learning last: Attention, Generation, Emotion and Spacing. It gives designers of workplace learning a short checklist grounded in neuroscience of how memories are formed and recalled.

When to use AGES Model

Use it when retention matters and you want to review or improve an existing session design, especially content-heavy corporate training.

How AGES Model works

Activities include attention-grabbers, generation of ideas, emotional hooks, and spacing.

Phases of AGES Model

  1. Attention: Protect focused attention: remove multitasking, keep segments short and make it clear what to focus on. Divided attention sharply reduces what people remember.
  2. Generation: Have participants generate their own connections, examples and explanations instead of only receiving content. Asking people to put ideas in their own words or apply them to their situation strengthens memory.
  3. Emotion: Create a moderate emotional connection through stories, real stakes or personal relevance. Emotionally engaging moments are remembered better.
  4. Spacing: Spread learning over time with pauses, repeated exposures and follow-up rather than cramming. Plan revisits of key ideas within the session and after it.

Key principles

  • Focused attention, no multitasking
  • Learners generate their own connections
  • Moderate emotion aids memory
  • Spacing beats cramming

Best for

  • Corporate training
  • Reviewing existing session designs
  • Content-heavy programmes
  • Blended and follow-up design

Considerations

  • Published in a practitioner journal by the NeuroLeadership Institute rather than as peer-reviewed research, though the underlying effects are well studied.
  • Emotion should be moderate; high stress impairs learning.
  • It addresses memory, not motivation or transfer on its own.

Attribution & sources

Developed by Lila Davachi, Tobias Kiefer, David Rock and Lisa Rock, 2010

Primary source

Design a session with AGES Model

METODIC builds a complete AGES Model-based session — methods, timing, worksheets, and facilitator guides — in minutes.

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