Passive learning is a

teaching method A teaching method is a set of principles and methods used by teachers to enable student learning. These strategies are determined partly by the subject matter to be taught, partly by the relative expertise of the learners, and partly by constrai ...

where students receive information from the instructor and internalize it. It is a method "where the learner receives no feedback from the instructor". The term is often used together with ''

direct instruction Direct instruction (DI) is the explicit teaching of a skill set using lectures or demonstrations of the material to students. A particular subset, denoted by capitalization as Direct Instruction, refers to the approach developed by Siegfried E ...

'' and '' lecturing'', with passive learning being the result or intended outcome of the instruction. This style of learning is teacher-centered and contrasts to

active learning Active learning is "a method of learning in which students are actively or experientially involved in the learning process and where there are different levels of active learning, depending on student involvement." states that "students particip ...

, which is student-centered, whereby students take an active or participatory role in the learning process, and to the

Socratic method The Socratic method (also known as the method of Elenchus or Socratic debate) is a form of argumentative dialogue between individuals based on asking and answering questions. Socratic dialogues feature in many of the works of the ancient Greek ...

where students and instructors engage in cooperative argumentative dialogue. Passive learning is a traditional method utilized in

factory model school "Factory model schools", "factory model education", or "industrial era schools" are ahistorical terms that emerged in the mid to late-20th century and are used by writers and speakers as a rhetorical device by those advocating changes to education ...

s and modern schools, as well as historic and contemporary religious services in churches (

sermons A sermon is a religious discourse or oration by a preacher, usually a member of clergy. Sermons address a scriptural, theological, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law, or behavior within both past and present contexts. E ...

mosque A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard. Originally, mosques were si ...

s, and

synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

s. Passive learning is not simply the outcome of an educational model. Passive learners may quietly absorb information and knowledge without typically engaging with the information received or the learning experience. They may not interact with others, share insights, or contribute to a dialogue. An estimated 60 percent of people are passive learners.

Passive vs. Active learning

The effectiveness of traditional instruction and passive learning methods have been under debate for some time. The modern origins of

progressive education Progressive education, or educational progressivism, is a pedagogical movement that began in the late 19th century and has persisted in various forms to the present. In Europe, progressive education took the form of the New Education Movement. T ...

, with active learning as a component, can be traced back to the 18th century works of

John Locke John Locke (; 29 August 1632 (Old Style and New Style dates, O.S.) – 28 October 1704 (Old Style and New Style dates, O.S.)) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of the Enlightenment thi ...

and

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Republic of Geneva, Genevan philosopher (''philosophes, philosophe''), writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment through ...

, both of whom are known as forerunners of ideas that would be developed by 20th century theorists such as

John Dewey John Dewey (; October 20, 1859 – June 1, 1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist, and Education reform, educational reformer. He was one of the most prominent American scholars in the first half of the twentieth century. The overridi ...

. Locke wrote that "truth and knowledge… arise out of observation and experience rather than manipulation of accepted or given ideas".

Advantages

Advantages of passive learning include: * Exposure to new material. * Greater control by the instructor over the classroom, audience, or students. * Opportunity for a structured and engaging format. * Ensuring a complement to the subject matter outside of the

learning environment The term learning environment can refer to an educational approach, cultural context, or physical setting in which teaching and learning occur. The term is commonly used as a more definitive alternative to " classroom", but it typically refers to ...

and

learning space Learning space or learning setting refers to a physical setting for a learning environment, a place in which teaching and learning occur. The term is commonly used as a more definitive alternative to "classroom," but it may also refer to an ...

. * The ability to clarify course material. * Presentation of a large amount of information in a short time. * Instructional materials (lecture notes, handouts, audiovisual media, etc.) can be prepared in advance. * Important concepts and content can be identified and presented in an organized, structured, and meaningful manner. * The potential to facilitate large-class communication. This format can also permit dissemination of materials not yet published or readily available. A randomized, controlled trial comparing passive (60-minute lecture) and active (30-minute lecture along with interactions between student pairs) showed no differences between the two methods in students' knowledge or attitudes. However, the perception of engagement with the delivered content was lower for the passive learning group.

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

External links

Active vs. Passive LearningTraditional classroom layout
{{Education Applied learning Educational technology Curricula Philosophy of education