Home » Blog » The Learning Pyramid: How We Actually Retain Knowledge

Ever sat through a long presentation and remembered … almost nothing? You’re not alone. That’s where the Learning Pyramid comes in — a simple yet powerful model that shows how we really retain information.

At the top of the pyramid are passive learning methods — things like lectures/lessons/speech’s, reading, and watching videos. While these can be useful, they lead to low retention rates — around 5% to 20%. You might understand it in the moment, but it doesn’t always stick.

Move down the pyramid, and things get more interactive — and more memorable. Demonstrations, group discussions, and practice by doing can boost retention to 50% or more. When we engage with the material, we’re more likely to remember and apply it.

At the base of the pyramid — the most effective method of all — is teaching others. Explaining something forces us to process it deeply and make it our own. That’s why mentoring or coaching can be as powerful for the teacher as it is for the learner.

So what does this mean for training? If we want learning to last, we need to make it active. Mix in role play, real-life scenarios, collaborative tasks, and chances to reflect or teach.

Next time you’re planning a session — or learning something new yourself — think beyond the slideshow. The more you do, the more you retain. And that’s how real learning happens.