Brainpower is a training tool that allows users to train knowledge in a smart way. It is based on Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve and spaced repetition. By training at intervals and based on learning objectives, users ensure that knowledge is stored in their long-term memory rather than fading over time.
This article explains how Brainpower is structured, how it works, and how to set it up within your academy.
How is Brainpower structured?
Brainpower is based on several key concepts:
Learning objectives: With Brainpower, users train based on learning objectives. These objectives are used to measure knowledge retention and proficiency.
Brainpower takes a cross-collection approach to learning objectives. If objectives in a (new) collection have already appeared in another training or collection, the results from those previous instances are taken into account. Learning objectives are trained across all collections and learning activities.Knowledge retention: This measures how many of the learning objectives users have demonstrated they know. If two questions within a learning objective are answered correctly in a row, it indicates that the objective has once been understood. The knowledge retention score never decreases.
Knowledge level: Because knowledge fades over time, it’s important for users to continue training. The knowledge level measures how much knowledge is retained in long-term memory. The more users train in Brainpower and the better they perform on learning objectives, the higher their knowledge level becomes. If a user stops training for a while, the knowledge level will decrease.
How does Brainpower work?
The goal of Brainpower is to achieve a higher level of knowledge retention and knowledge level. Here's how it works:
For a new training session, Brainpower presents one question per learning objective.
If the user answers a question correctly, both the knowledge retention and the knowledge level for that objective increase.
If the user answers a question incorrectly, Brainpower will present another question from that learning objective in the next training session.
By default, each training session includes 10 questions, but users can adjust this number to be higher or lower.
Scores for learning objectives decline over time (knowledge level decreases). Brainpower will reintroduce the lowest-scoring objectives as soon as the user resumes training.
How does Brainpower work as an exam trainer?
It’s also possible to set an end date in Brainpower. In this case, the tool functions slightly differently from the standard setup: Brainpower aims to reach a 70% knowledge level across all learning objectives in the collection before the set deadline.
In this mode, Brainpower will present as many questions as needed in each session to sufficiently train all learning objectives by the deadline. This means a user may receive (far) more than the usual 10 questions per session.
It is the user’s responsibility to complete enough training sessions in Brainpower, and on time, to achieve the required knowledge level.
How do I set up Brainpower?
There are two ways to set up Brainpower for users. Both options offer the same features to the user, but they differ mainly in how they are set up by you as an admin: with a Brainpower collection, you create an empty collection to which you manually add questions. With the e-learning integration, the collection is created automatically based on the e-learning for which the integration is enabled.
Both methods are described below.
Brainpower collection
A Brainpower collection is similar to the traditional card index system. It contains all questions linked to their respective learning objectives, allowing Brainpower to draw from these questions and present them to the user based on those objectives.
To create a Brainpower collection, follow these steps:
Go to “Content” via the menu on the left.
Click “Add”.
Select “E-learning” and then “Compile a collection”.
Add the general information:
Title: Give the learning activity a clear title so you can easily find it in the course overview.
Author: By default, the name of the academy is used as the author.
Study time: Optionally enter an estimate of the study time.
Themes: Add at least one theme.
Description: Here you can provide additional information about the learning activity, such as its main objective.
Click “Create new learning activity”.
Click “Edit collection” to edit the content of the collection.
You can now add new questions or use existing ones from the Warehouse. By clicking “Search and reuse questions”, you can select questions directly from the Warehouse.
Integration with an e-learning
Go to “Content” via the menu on the left.
Find the e-learning for which you want to enable Brainpower.
Go to the “Settings” tab for that e-learning and switch on the toggle for “Brainpower integration”.
A Brainpower collection will then be created automatically. This collection will appear as a separate tile in the learning activities overview. You can manage this collection via the Brainpower tile to make any changes to the generated content.
How does Brainpower work for the user?
Users can start a Brainpower training in two ways, depending on how Brainpower is set up (see above):
Users can scroll to the “Go to” section on their user dashboard. There, they can select the Brainpower option.
Users can open the e-learning that is integrated with Brainpower and click the Brainpower icon in the top right corner.
Both options lead to the screen where users can start their training. They can select the collection(s) they want to train. In the next step, they choose how many questions they want to receive in the session. The default is set to 10 questions, but users can adjust this number.
Viewing results
At the end of a training session, the user sees their progress on the learning objectives that have been covered so far in Brainpower trainings (and in the integrated e-learning).
The boxes that appear represent the number of learning objectives in the collection. By hovering over a box, the user can see the name of the learning objective. The colours indicate the following:
Grey: No knowledge retention or knowledge level for this objective yet.
Light blue: Knowledge retention has been built up for this objective.
Dark blue: A high knowledge level has been reached for this objective.
By consistently answering questions correctly over time and across multiple training sessions, the user's knowledge level increases, and the knowledge is stored in their long-term memory. The user has mastered the learning objective. If the user does not train for a while, the knowledge level percentage will decrease.
Knowledge retention indicates that the learning objective has been trained and that at least some questions related to it have been answered correctly. The user has trained this objective. The knowledge retention score never decreases.
Learning analytics of a Brainpower integration with an e-learning
If a collection is integrated with an e-learning, the user can view detailed analytics. These analytics can be accessed by clicking the growth icon in the top right corner of the screen.
The user will then see, for each section of the e-learning, which learning objectives are included and which of those they have already mastered. They will also see their progress in the e-learning, their knowledge retention, and their knowledge level.