Active versus passive teaching styles: An empirical study of student learning outcomes

TLDR

The study compares the effects of active versus passive teaching styles on student cognitive outcomes. The experiment involved two sections of an introductory business course, one using active learning exercises and the other relying on daily lectures. Active learning did not improve overall mastery but did enhance cognitive outcomes for class‑specific materials, underscoring the influence of delivery style on learning.

Abstract

Abstract This study compares the impact of an active teaching approach and a traditional (or passive) teaching style on student cognitive outcomes. Across two sections of an introductory business course, one class was taught in an active or “nontraditional” manner, with a variety of active learning exercises. The second class was taught in a passive or “traditional” manner, emphasizing daily lectures. Although the active learning approach does not appear to have improved overall mastery of the subject, we did find evidence that active learning can lead to improved cognitive outcomes in class‐specific materials. The discussion emphasizes the role of delivery style on learning outcomes.