Forget The Learning Pyramid and Use Active Learning Methods

The Learning Pyramid is Worth Forgetting

The learning pyramid is a graphic that shows how much information people retain based on the method of instruction. The pyramid claims that people remember 90% of what they do, 70% of what they say, 50% of what they hear, 30% of what they see, 20% of what they read, and 10% of what they are told. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.

The learning pyramid is based on a study that Edgar Dale conducted. Dale's study needed to be well-designed, and the results were not replicated. However, research has shown that people can learn effectively using various methods, including lectures, reading, and hands-on activities.

In "A rebuttal of NTL Institute's learning pyramid," Kåre Letrud argues:

• The learning pyramid is a gross oversimplification of the learning process. Many factors affect how well people learn, including their motivation, prior knowledge, and the difficulty of the material.
• The learning pyramid does not consider individuals' different learning styles. For example, some people learn best by listening, while others learn best by seeing or doing.
• The learning pyramid is often used to justify passive learning methods, such as lectures. However, research has shown that active learning methods, such as hands-on activities, are more effective for learning.

Ken Masters warns that The learning pyramid can lead to ineffective learning in medical education.

While there is some overlap with active learning best practices, The Learning Pyramid is best to forget.