Quick study: Active learning

Active learning transforms passive listeners into engaged participants by involving learners directly in the construction of knowledge and skills. This evidence-based approach dramatically increases retention, understanding, and transfer compared to passive instruction.

This microburst explores the principles behind active learning and provides practical methods for incorporating it into any learning experience. You’ll discover why actively processing information through discussion, practice, teaching others, and problem-solving creates stronger neural connections and deeper learning.

Learn how to design activities that require meaningful thinking and doing, from simple think-pair-share exercises to complex case studies and simulations. Understand how to balance guidance with discovery to create the optimal level of productive challenge for your audience.

Perfect for learning professionals seeking to move beyond information delivery to create experiences where learners actively construct understanding. Discover how to transform even the most content-heavy topics into engaging learning experiences that produce measurable results.

Your people will learn how to:

• Understand the science behind active learning’s remarkable effectiveness, giving you compelling evidence to support more engaging design approaches
• Recognize the crucial distinction between activity and meaningful cognitive engagement, ensuring your “active” learning truly builds capability
• Apply a spectrum of active learning techniques for various contexts, from simple in-the-moment activities to complex extended exercises
• Transform lecture-heavy content into engaging experiences without losing essential information, making even technical topics come alive
• Create the optimal level of cognitive challenge that stretches learners without overwhelming them, maintaining the perfect balance for learning
• Implement active learning approaches that dramatically increase retention and transfer, creating learning that actually sticks and applies to real work