Passive vs. active learning
The effectiveness of traditional instruction and passive learning methods have been under debate for some time.
Disadvantages Disadvantages of passive learning include: • The required assumption that for learning to be successful, the students will receive the subject matter with "open minds, like empty vessels or sponges". • The instructor will fill the minds of the students with knowledge in order to obtain better examination results. • Allows limited opportunities to assess how well students are learning content, ask questions, seek clarification, or participate in discussions. • Students may be reticent about letting instructors know they do not understand key information and they may be reluctant to ask questions in class. • With no opportunity for application, it does not consistently engage students' use of higher-level cognitive skills. • A standard model is lecture-format with one-way communication which does not engage the listener. • It requires the instructor to have effective speaking and presentation skills. • It fails to support
neuroinclusion – i.e., it accommodates some learning styles more than others. • Students are expected to wait for information to be provided and then to follow directions on what to do with that information. • Emphasis is placed on repeating information without reflecting or demonstrating an understanding. This can result in surface processing instead of
deeper learning, less ability to use what is learned, and the study being deemed irrelevant by the students. The disadvantages of passive learning can be compared to the advantages of active learning. It has been suggested that while active engagement with material, students, instructors, etc. might be critical to learning, active participation may not be. ==References==