We’ve all been there.
You sit through a training session, nod along politely, maybe even take a few notes, and then walk away with little to show for it weeks later.
This isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a design problem.
At Arc Integrated, we believe learning should stick. That’s why we created the 10x Learning Experience: our proprietary model that transforms how professionals learn, apply, and retain new behaviors. It’s designed around the realities of adult learning, not just theory.
Here’s how it works.
Why Most Learning Falls Flat
Too often, professional development lands in one of three camps:
- Boredom: The content lacks relevance or energy.
- Frustration: The experience is disorganized, inaccessible, or poorly facilitated.
- “Woo Woo”: The material feels fluffy or disconnected from practical outcomes.
If a workshop or training session hits even one of these modes, retention plummets. In fact, studies show that without active reinforcement, learners forget up to 90% of what they’ve learned within a week (source).
The Arc Integrated Approach: 10x Learning Experience
Our 10x model integrates three core components that drive behavior change in adult learners:
- Experience: Learning must be participatory, real-world, and hands-on.
- Evidence: Learning must be grounded in what works using frameworks, research, and proven strategies.
- Adult Learning: Learning must respect the learner’s autonomy, experience, and goals.
It’s not enough to have good information. You need engagement, credibility, and application.
These pillars come together to break through the “stuck points” of most training, delivering what we call a 10x experience. Because learners retain more, apply more, and grow faster.
What Makes Adult Learning Different?
Adult learners are not blank slates. They come to learning with:
- Prior experience
- Real-world responsibilities
- Specific goals and time constraints
According to Malcolm Knowles’ principles of adult learning (andragogy), adults learn best when training is self-directed, relevant, and problem-centered (source). That’s why our leadership training is designed to foster autonomy and build on the experience leaders already bring to the table.
We also apply insights from transformative learning theory, which shows that lasting change comes not just from information, but from reflection, critical thinking, and perspective shifts (Mezirow, 1997).
The Sweet Spot of 10x Learning
When experience, evidence, and adult learning principles are balanced, here’s what you get:
- Engagement that sparks curiosity
- Real-world application that drives results
- Psychological safety that supports transformation
- Measurable growth in leadership behavior
We’ve used this model with executive teams, emerging leaders, and entire organizations and consistently see increased retention, satisfaction, and performance.
Want to see how the 10x Learning Experience comes to life in real organizational settings? Explore our Discovery Experience: a facilitated process designed to surface insights, engage diverse voices, and create lasting learning across teams.
Don’t Settle for Less Than 10x
In a world flooded with content and complexity, your learning programs must do more than inform. They must transform.
At Arc Integrated, we help organizations turn professional development into a strategic advantage by designing programs that meet learners where they are and push them to where they need to go.
Want to bring the 10x Learning Experience to your team? Request a strategy call and let’s build something that lasts.
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