Explained: Learning Pyramid Theory and its seven levels  

According to neurologists, the average retention rate of information after listening to a lecture is merely 5%! As surprising as this statistic is, it also sheds light on the irony of how lectures are the primary method of teaching in most educational systems. Thus, it is only natural that students find it difficult to acquire clear understanding of a topic through them. There are other aspects to studying which have proven to be way more effective. All of these are highlighted in the Learning Pyramid Theory. Read on to know what this theory actually encapsulates, and how it can help your teen study more efficiently. 

What is the Learning Pyramid Theory? 
The focal point of this theory is the Learning Retention Pyramid. It is essentially a theoretic study model which demonstrates how various learning methods differ in impacting a student’s retention capacity, and which ones are more beneficial when it comes to studying a topic. It was initially developed in the1960s by the National Training Laboratories Institute, and has undergone slight alterations since then. This model maintains that students tend to retain more information if they do something with it, rather than just hearing it.  

The 7 levels of the Learning Retention Pyramid 
These are the 7 levels of the Learning Retention Pyramid . Read on to know how you can help your child study smarter by applying them effectively. 

Lectures 
According to this theory, only 5% of the information heard in a lecture is retained. Thus, it states that mere listening to information is the least-effective method of understanding it. However, it is important to encourage your child to pay attention to lectures as it they are usually the initial method of familiarization with a topic. Moreover, some students tend to be better auditory learners than others.   

Reading 
Reading follows lectures with a 10% retention capacity. Thus, it is marginally more effective. One key advantage is that the information can be revisited as and when required. If your child follows up the lecture with reading, it will solidify the information in his mind further. Although it involves a visual component, it is still a passive learning method.  

Audio-visual 
The combined audio-visual approach typically helps learners retain 20% of the information. It includes aids like videos, pictures, graphs, slideshows, 3-D objects, etc. In times of virtual learning, this method is ubiquitous. Ask your child to seek out audio-visual content of a particular topic in the syllabus through a documentary, short film, podcast, experiment, etc.  

Demonstration 
This involves the teacher showing students how to do something through a step-by-step process. It is the first “active” learning method on the pyramid. This is because the information provided is clearer than other passive methods. It leads to greater understanding of especially vague or confusing information, and has a 30% retention rate. Encourage your student to request the teacher to demonstrate certain material for better understanding. A great area to use this is for science experiments. 

Discussion 
The retention rate leaps to 50% with the method of discussion, and is the first form of kinaesthetic learning on the pyramid. Discussions allow participants to determine their own understanding and interpretation of a topic, which is than challenged by those of others. It is a great idea to have family discussions at home about particular topics to help your teen estimate his level of understand.  

Practise Doing 

With a high retention rate of 75%, this involves a hands-on approach for students. It allows the application of information in everyday practice, and hence, helps in long-term recalling of the information. Encouraging your teen to instil some of her learning in everyday life will help her understand it not just intellectually, but also cognitively and practically. 

Teaching 
This is, by far, the most effective method of learning with a 90% retention rate. The most effective way to master a subject is to teach it to someone else. It can help enhance one’s own learning, and being able to do it successfully means that the concepts have been understood clearly and recalling them is easy. For this, you can help your teen organise study group meet-ups (either online or in-person) to give the group the opportunity to collaborate and help each other out in studies.