
Why Active Learning?
How we make sure information sticks
A recent study of over 1,500 participants concluded that, on average, people remember 4 PowerPoint slides out of 20 after 48 hours.
Worse still, after a couple more days retention rates declined even more. By then:
It’s not that we have a problem with PowerPoint specifically, but Cognitive Filters mean that when we think we’ve seen or heard something before, we tune out. Rather than really listen to what a person is saying, we draw on our existing knowledge bank and connect the dots in ways we think make sense. Even if they’re different to what’s being said.
To overcome Cognitive Bias, we have to truly experience our information, not just hear it.
The National Academy of Sciences concluded that Active Learning makes student failure rates plummet by 35% compared to traditional lectures. This was the largest and most comprehensive review of the effect of Active Learning in education, and there’s plenty more research that praises this process. Read the full article in Wired here.