The Cone of Learning illustrates that people learn more when they:

The Cone of Learning is a powerful model that shows the different levels of retention and understanding people achieve through various learning methods. According to this model, active participation in learning activities leads to significantly higher retention and understanding compared to more passive methods like reading, watching videos, or attending lectures.

When learners actively engage in the process—such as through discussions, hands-on practice, or teaching others—they are more likely to comprehend and remember the information. This is because active participation involves critical thinking, problem-solving, and applying knowledge in real-world scenarios, which reinforces the learning experience and solidifies understanding.

In contrast, methods like simply reading materials or watching videos, while still useful, generally lead to lower retention rates. Attending lectures also falls into the category of passive learning, where the audience receives information without much interaction. Overall, incorporating active participation is key to maximizing learning outcomes, making it the most effective approach as illustrated by the Cone of Learning.