Why Passive Learning Falls Short
In many organizations, learning is still equated with content consumption. Watch a webinar. Read an article. Sit through a training video. Done. Necessary boxes checked.
But can watching without follow-up really be considered learning?
It might build awareness, but it rarely changes behavior. And without behavior change, learning has little impact.
In her article “The Doing Deficit,” neuroscientist Anne-Laure Le Cunff argues that the world has plenty of knowledge to share, but a dearth of people willing to take the action needed to effectively apply that knowledge in the real world.
Passive formats don’t demand much from the learner. They don’t ask people to grapple with ideas, test their thinking, reflect on what matters, or ultimately apply insights. And that’s where learning actually happens.
It Looks Like a Lesson… But Is It?
When content is polished and easy to follow, it creates a sense of fluency. We feel like we’re learning even when we’re not. Psychologists call this the fluency illusion: the tendency to confuse ease of processing with true understanding.
It’s why a well-designed video can be engaging but forgettable. Why a great slide deck might get nods but no follow-through. Without interaction, friction, or reflection, content doesn’t stick.
What Real Learning Looks Like
Real learning is active. It requires effort and intention, not just attention.
That doesn’t mean long hours or complex platforms. It means:
- Asking questions and exploring the answers
- Applying insights to real-world challenges
- Reflecting on what worked… and what didn’t
- Revisiting key ideas over time
How L&D Can Shift the Model
If you want learning to matter, you need to design for action. That means:
- Curating high-quality content that sparks conversation
- Pairing insights with prompts or challenges
- Giving managers tools to reinforce learning on the job
- Embedding moments of reflection into daily workflows
At getAbstract, we believe that learning should go beyond exposure. It should shape how people think, decide, and grow. That only happens when passive consumption gives way to active engagement. Watching isn’t learning. Doing is.
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“The Doing Deficit,” by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
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