The Most Passive “Learning” We All Do
Passive listening isn’t true learning; active engagement builds lasting understanding.
For years, my calendar and todo list was packed with webinars and online talks. I felt productive just by showing up, watching them. I’d listen intently, nod along, even take notes. But weeks later, if you asked me what the key takeaways were, I’d struggle to recall ANYthing.
I was hearing, but I wasn’t learning.
It reminded me of an old saying that is often attributed to Confucius: "What I hear I forget, what I see I remember, what I do I understand."
A more modern version I encountered when I took a training in Singapore (ACTA V5, an Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment). That's where I learned about the Active Learning Credo. It goes further. It suggests a ladder of learning, and I realized I had been stuck on the bottom rung.
The lightbulb moment for me was understanding that true learning isn't an act of consumption; it's an act of engagement. We can't just absorb knowledge passively and expect it to stick (connection to schools and university, anyone?)
Here’s the ladder from the credo:
When I only hear, I forget. (My webinar problem)
When I hear and see, I remember a little. (Watching a demo)
When I hear, see, and ask questions, I begin to understand. (Participating in a Q&A)
When I also do, I acquire knowledge and skill. (Applying the lesson to a real task)
When I teach someone else, I master it. (The ultimate test of understanding)
This reframed it for me. Now, instead of just attending a session, I ask myself: How can I move up this ladder? Can I apply this concept to a project tomorrow? Can I explain this idea to someone over coffee?
It also reminds me of another favorite quote: Who is the person in the classroom who learns the most? The teacher!
I may not be perfect at it, but but my goal is no longer just to collect information, but to build real, lasting skill, by going up that ladder.
What's one thing you're learning this week, and how could you move one rung up the ladder with it? How could you apply this when you teach concepts to colleagues at work?