I went back to school for a day – and discovered some very unsettling facts about learning

I thought my articles and radio shows made an impact on people. A notice in the staffroom suggested otherwise

I went back to school for a day – and discovered some very unsettling facts about learning

TL;DR

  • The author led a "Deep Learning Day" at a secondary school, feeling they learned more than they taught.
  • A notice in the staffroom outlined information retention percentages for different learning methods.
  • Retention rates: 10% read, 20% hear, 30% see, 50% see and hear, 70% discuss, 80% personal experience, 90% teach.
  • The author finds these statistics disheartening for professions involving reading and speaking.
  • The high retention rates for discussion and personal experience are linked to echo chambers and the solidification of personal truths.