Active learning through passive content
This article is the second article on the pitfalls of common design in my series. Here we dive into one of the most frequent obstacles that educational designers face. It relies heavily on a passive learning approach. I share insights from both my teaching design work and teachers in English as a Second Language (ESL) and explore how I can move beyond the delivery of passive content and towards an engaging, learner-centric experience.
Engagement is crucial for lasting impact
Many of my early asynchronous projects have been shaped by the background of ESL instruction for adult professionals, and I was drawn to tools that are naturally familiar to me: slides, click and rebale interactions, basic knowledge checks, and more. These factors reflected the one-to-one coaching strategies used to enhance workplace communication skills, adapting real-time support to a self-paced, digital format. These approaches were not wrong. In fact, they often reflect a kind of structured delivery that worked well for English learners.
Over time, I began to reflect more critically on the learning experiences I was designing. Did they provide the opportunity to apply, analyze, or reflect the information learners were about to ingest? Or did they rely heavily on passive interactions, such as clicking on slides without meaningful engagement?
This change in perspective was not to discount my previous work. In fact, it became a milestone in my development. Every project you create as a mentoring designer contributes to growth as much as it supports others’ learning journeys.
Why Passive Learning is Lack
Passive learning, in which learners receive information without active participation, may seem efficient and easy to create, but it overlooks an important aspect of how adults learn and apply new skills. In one-on-one sessions with business professionals who learn English, learners were found to hold information more effectively when they were actively involved in speaking out, solving problems, or reflecting real-world situations.
When learners do not have the opportunity to practice or engage with the study material, they often struggle to apply what they have learned with confidence in the actual situation. This must be a core principle of educational design, as meaningful engagement with content is essential for learners to apply knowledge effectively, and this is impaired by retention and real-world applications.
Simply put, passive learning does not promote the cognitive effort required for deeper understanding and behavioral change. When learners are treated as empty containers to fill with information, engagement declines and motivation decreases. The result is training that may check the box, but it cannot move the learner forward.
Costs to overuse the “Click-Next” course
An example of passive learning is the typical “ClickNext” course, where learners proceed through a series of narration slides with little or no interaction. Stakeholders often request these courses because they are easy to develop and deployed. However, learners are frequently irritated due to limited engagement and lack of meaningful content.
From my ESL teaching experience, I have learned that language acquisition relies on dialogue, interaction, and immediate feedback, rather than passive engagement. The same applies to corporate learning. When the course resembles a dull, monotonous presentation, learners tend to lose focus, mentally check out and have a hard time applying what they are learning. This problem can be exacerbated by cognitive overload caused by passive information damping. This allows learning to feel overwhelming or boring for all learners, not just non-native English speakers.
Engagement as a gateway to critical thinking
Actual learning is more than just being exposed to content. Knowledge processing, questions and application is required. Educational designs that incorporate active learning strategies invite learners to engage cognitively and emotionally. Including scenario-based learning, branching simulations, reflexive questions, group discussions, or opportunities to practice skills in realistic contexts is central to what educational designers need to incorporate to make effective learning attractive.
In ESL, this meant role-playing business meetings and negotiation practices rather than memorizing vocabulary lists. For educational designers, this means moving beyond the slide deck to a interactive experience that challenges learners to solve problems and make decisions. When learners are actively involved, they build stronger neural connections, increase retention and the ability to transfer learning to their work.
Balance and interaction of information delivery
This challenge is combined with meaningful opportunities for clear content and engagement. Instead of overwhelming learners with dense text and long audio narration, they divide the material into manageable sections and provide the opportunity to apply what they have learned and reflected.
Ask yourself: Does this segment allow learners to pause and think? Are you encouraging them to test their understanding? Is there a way to relate this to your daily work and goals? If the answer is no, consider redesigning it for interaction.
Catering to diverse learning needs and ESL considerations
Heavily relying on passive learning is particularly challenging for non-native English speakers and those new to diverse training approaches. When learners try to process dense content in a second language without opportunities for interaction or clarification, their understanding often suffers.
It is essential for ESL learners to create active learning materials. Especially since you often face additional pressure when navigating new content in a second language. By creating a space where you can safely practice, receive feedback and build confidence, we support not only language development, but also the ability to effectively apply new skills.
Designed for a learner-centered, active experience
Avoiding passive learning does not mean eliminating content delivery. It means creating learning experiences that will induce learners intellectually and emotionally.
By encouraging active participation, education designers can create training that moves beyond mere communication, towards true skill development and behavioral change. This change is particularly important when designing adult learners, multilingual audiences, or real-world communication and decision-making for key roles.
Ready to create more impactful learning?
Avoiding passive learning is not just about better design. Respect the learners’ time and growth potential. As an educational designer, you have the power to create meaningful, interactive learning journeys that inspire real-world applications. Stay tuned for the next article in this series. Here we explore another important pitfall to be aware of.
If you want to improve your training for effective engagement strategies, especially for ESL or multicultural audiences, I’m here. Combining my expertise in ESL and eLearning Development, I can partner with you to design courses focused on learners that will truly impact you. Let’s start the conversation!
