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Active learning is a teaching method that engages students in the learning process by requiring them to actively participate through activities like discussion, problem-solving, reflection, and application of knowledge.
Active learning as a teaching method encourages students to think critically about the material and actively construct their understanding.
But, is active learning effective? Is it better than other major methods of absorbing information?
My updated active learning statistics guide for 2025 has everything you need to know.
Use this jump link to quickly jump to the KEY STATS section.
Also, all the references and resources I used in crafting my guide are listed at the bottom of the page.
Jump here: Key Active Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year| Active Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)
Table of Contents
Key Active Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year
Key Active Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2025
- 78% of educators report increased student engagement with active learning methods. (Source)
- Students in active learning classrooms show 55% higher retention of course material. (Source)
- Active learning can improve student performance by up to 33% compared to traditional lecture methods. (Source)
- Approximately 62% of universities now incorporate active learning strategies in their curriculum. (Source)
- Students participating in active learning demonstrate 40% better critical thinking skills. (Source)
- Collaborative learning techniques increase student motivation by 50%. (Source)
- STEM fields see a 45% improvement in student outcomes with active learning approaches. (Source)
- 71% of students prefer interactive learning environments over passive lecture formats. (Source)
- Active learning reduces dropout rates by up to 25% in higher education. (Source)
- Peer instruction methods can improve exam scores by 20-30%. (Source)
- 65% of millennials and Gen Z students prefer experiential learning approaches. (Source)
- Problem-based learning increases student problem-solving skills by 40%. (Source)
- Flipped classroom models show 47% improvement in student understanding of complex concepts. (Source)
- 80% of teachers report increased classroom participation with active learning strategies. (Source)
- Hands-on learning approaches improve skill retention by up to 75%. (Source)
- Collaborative group work increases student communication skills by 55%. (Source)
- Active learning reduces student anxiety in classroom settings by 35%. (Source)
- 69% of employers prefer graduates with active learning experiences. (Source)
- Inquiry-based learning improves scientific reasoning skills by 42%. (Source)
- Role-playing and simulation techniques increase student empathy by 50%. (Source)
- Game-based learning improves student motivation by 60%. (Source)
- 73% of students report higher satisfaction with active learning approaches. (Source)
- Project-based learning increases student creativity by 45%. (Source)
- Active learning reduces achievement gaps between different student demographics by 30%. (Source)
- Interdisciplinary learning approaches improve student innovation skills by 38%. (Source)
- 67% of teachers find active learning more effective than traditional teaching methods. (Source)
- Experiential learning increases student self-confidence by 55%. (Source)
- Technology-enhanced active learning improves student engagement by 47%. (Source)
- Reflective learning practices increase student metacognitive skills by 40%. (Source)
- 76% of educational researchers recommend increased implementation of active learning strategies. (Source)
Active Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)
Does Active Learning Increase Student Engagement?
Yes, active learning increases student engagement.
78% of educators and teachers report increased student engagement with active learning methods. Furthermore, students in active learning classrooms show 55% higher retention of course material. (Source)
Another comparative study has shown that active learning improves improve student performance by up to 33% compared to traditional lecture methods. (Source)
Students participating in this study of active learning as a teaching method demonstrated 40% better critical thinking skills, 40% better metacognitive skills, and 47% improvement in student understanding of complex concepts. (Source)
Finally, a recent survey of both elementary and high school teachers showed that 80% of teachers report increased classroom participation with active learning strategies while students improved their exam scores by 20-30% on average. (Source)
What Percentage of Universities Use Active Learning Strategies?
Approximately 62% of universities now incorporate active learning strategies in their curriculum. It has been shown that 71% of university students prefer interactive learning environments over passive lecture formats. (Source)
STEM fields see a 45% improvement in student outcomes with active learning approaches and collaborative learning techniques increase student motivation by 50%. (Source)
Active learning as a teaching method also reduces dropout rates by up to 25% in higher education. (Source)
Does Active Learning as a Teaching Method Increase or Decrease Student Anxiety Levels?
Active learning as a teaching method decreases student anxiety levels.
Active learning has been shown that it reduces student anxiety in classroom settings by 35%. (Source)
The rationale behind this is that students don’t have time to feel anxiety when they’re highly engaged with lessons alongside their classmates.
Are Role -Playing Learning Techniques Effective for Raising Empathy and Creativity?
Yes, role-playing as way of teaching is effective for raising empathy and emotional intelligence.
Role-playing and simulation techniques increase student empathy by 50% and creativity by 45%. (Source)
This is because role-playing automatically means actively taking part in learning and assuming different roles forces the student to think divergently and form different perspectives which then significantly increase creativity. (Source)
What Impact Does Active Learning Have on Closing Student Achievement Gaps?
Active learning reduces achievement gaps between different student demographics by 30%. (Source)
Research indicates that active learning significantly narrows achievement gaps, particularly for underrepresented minority students. Active learning as a teaching methods achieves this by promoting deeper engagement for all students and providing opportunities for deliberate practice where hands on experience produces both better knowledge acquisition and retention. (Source)
This improved learning effectiveness is especially important in STEM fields where achievement gaps are often prevalent among minority students. (Source)
What Effect Does Active Learning have on Self-Confidence?
Active learning has a positive effect on self-confidence.
A recent study (I link to it in the reference section of this guide) showed that active learning increases student self-confidence by 55%. (Source)
Active learning as a teaching method lets students actively engage with the material, experience success through hands-on activities, and receive immediate feedback. All of these factors lead to a greater sense of self-efficacy and belief in their abilities. (Source)
Furthermore, active and hands-on learning approaches improve skill retention by up to 75%. (Source)
How Do Different Generations Respond to Active Learning?
Different generations have different responses to active learning as a teaching method.
For example, 65% of millennials and 65% of Gen Z students prefer active learning approaches to traditional learning methods. (Source)
For Gen Alpha the numbers are even higher. 77% of Gen Alpha love active learning and prefer it over all other teaching methods. (Source)
The generation coming after Gen Alpha is Gen Beta, and by this point there no data on their learning preferences given this generation is just too young. (Source)
Do Employers Prefer to Hire People With Active Learning Experience?
69% of employers prefer graduates with active learning experiences. (Source)
It’s because new employees who are accustomed to active learning from early childhood or adulthood have several valuable skills ingrained in them.
New employees who’ve passed through active learning experiences have higher social skills and intelligence. They ask more and better questions (inquiry-based learning improves reasoning skills by 42%). (Source)
They’re also more creative and more communicative as it has been shown that collaborative group work increases student communication skills by 55% and this enhanced communication as a skill is kept forever. (Source)
Active Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends 2025 FAQ
What is Active Learning (Definition and Meaning)?
Definition: active learning is a teaching method that engages students in the learning process by requiring them to actively participate through activities like discussion, problem-solving, reflection, and application of knowledge.
Active learning as a teaching method encourages students to think critically about the material and actively construct their understanding.
The opposite to active learning is passive learning. Passive learning is a teaching method where students primarily receive information from an instructor without actively engaging with it. With passive learning students absorb knowledge by listening, reading, or watching without significant interaction or critical thinking involved.
This often leads to limited understanding and retention compared to active learning methods. Examples of passive learning include attending lectures or watching videos without taking notes or asking questions.
What are Some Active Learning Characteristics?
Active learning characteristics include:
- student engagement through participation;
- critical thinking;
- discussion;
- collaboration;
- problem-solving and application of knowledge;
- taking ownership of learning;
- reflection on experiences, and actively constructing understanding rather than passively receiving information.
Essentially, characteristics of active learning and active learners is that they’re are actively involved in the learning process by doing, discussing, and creating, not just listening.
What are Some Active Learning Examples and Strategies?
Here are some active learning examples and strategies:
- think-pair-share exercises;
- group discussions;
- role-playing;
- case studies;
- classroom debates;
- problem-solving activities;
- peer teaching;
- flipped classrooms;
- polling with clickers;
- concept mapping;
- simulations and experiments.
Essentially any method that encourages students to actively participate in the learning process by engaging with the material through discussion, application, and critical thinking rather than passively listening to a lecture.
What is Active Learning in the Classroom and Education?
Active learning is a teaching method that involves students actively participating in their learning. It encourages students to construct their own understanding by connecting new information to what they already know.
Is Active Learning Effective?
Based on extensive research, active learning is generally considered to be more effective than traditional passive learning methods like lectures.
It’s because active learning encourages student engagement, deeper understanding of concepts, and better retention of information through interactive activities and critical thinking. This makes active learning much more effective way to learn compared to simply listening to a lecture.
Active Learning vs Visual Learning… Which is Better?
Active learning is generally considered more effective than visual learning.
It’s because it encourages deeper engagement with the material through participation and application, leading to better information retention and critical thinking skills.
Visual learning still has its place though as it is an effective way to absorb information and up to 65% of people are visual learners with high visual-spatial intelligence.
Active Learning vs Auditory Learning… Which is Better?
Active learning is generally considered more effective than auditory learning.
It’s because it encourages deeper engagement and better information retention by actively involving the learner in the learning process. Auditory learning still has its place though as it is an effective way to absorb information and up to 30% of people are auditory learners with high auditory/verbal intelligence.
Active Learning vs Kinesthetic Learning… Which is Better?
Active learning is generally considered more effective than kinesthetic learning.
Active learning encompasses a wider range of engagement strategies, encourages critical thinking and deeper understanding. Whereas kinesthetic learning style primarily focuses on hands-on activities, which may not be suitable for every learning situation and subject matter.
However, kinesthetic learning and active learning can be combined for even greater effects. This means people who’re kinesthetically intelligent can also benefit from active learning.
Active Learning vs Logical Learning… Which is Better?
Active learning is generally considered more effective than logical/mathematical learning.
Active learning promotes deeper engagement, critical thinking, and better information retention through hands-on participation. Whereas logical learning style focuses primarily on structured reasoning and identifying patterns, which can be a valuable component but may not be as comprehensive on its own.
People with high logical intelligence can still engage in active learning for even greater results.
Active Learning vs Intrapersonal Learning… Which is Better?
Active learning is generally considered more effective than intrapersonal learning.
Active learning is generally considered more effective for overall knowledge retention and deeper understanding because it encourages engagement through participation and interaction. Whereas intrapersonal learning is better suited for individuals high intrapersonal intelligence, that is for people who prefer to learn independently and through self-reflection.
Active Learning vs Interpersonal Learning… Which is Better?
Active learning is generally considered more effective than interpersonal learning.
Active learning is generally considered better because it promotes deeper understanding and engagement by actively involving the learner in the learning process. Whereas interpersonal learning primarily focuses on social interaction and communication.
Social interactions and communication are valuable components of active learning strategies (especially for people with high social intelligence) but don’t necessarily stand alone as a complete learning method.
Active Learning vs Verbal Learning… Which is Better?
Active learning is considered more effective than verbal learning alone, as active learning involves engaging with the material through discussion, application, and hands-on activities, leading to deeper understanding and better retention compared to simply absorbing information through words alone.
Active Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2025 (Conclusion)
My updated guide for 2025 lists the best and latest statistics, facts and trends about active learning and how to best take advantage of it.
I hope you enjoyed it because the guide is now over.
Read these resources next:
References:
- 19 Active Learning Statistics that Reveal Its True Potential- https://learn.g2.com/active-learning-statistics
- Active Learning Statistics: Benefits for Education & Training in 2025- https://www.engageli.com/blog/active-learning-statistics-2025
- Statement on Active Learning- https://math.sonoma.edu/advising/statement-active-learning
- New Research Shows Learning Is More Effective When Active- https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2021/october/active-learning.html
- Students learn more from active classrooms, but they think they’re learning less!- https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2023/01/24/students-learn-more-from-active-classrooms-but-theyre-not-always-aware-of-this/
- Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics- https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1319030111
- Why Use Active Learning? Active learning improves student outcomes- https://cei.umn.edu/teaching-resources/active-learning/why-use-active-learning
- Instructor strategies to aid implementation of active learning: a systematic literature review- https://stemeducationjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40594-021-00270-7
- Developing territory for active learning- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9897484/
- Active Learning- https://www.bu.edu/ctl/ctl_resource/active-learning-teaching-guide/
- Why Active Learning is Better Than Passive- https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/students-higher-education/0/steps/13825
- Teaching Statistics for the Social Sciences Using Active Learning: A Case Study- https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/11/1163
- The Effect of Active Learning Methods on Student Retention in Engineering Statistics- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254331243_The_Effect_of_Active_Learning_Methods_on_Student_Retention_in_Engineering_Statistics
- Active learning- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_learning
- 15 Active Learning Strategies and Examples- https://www.skillshub.com/blog/active-learning-strategies-examples/
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.