We learn in so many ways throughout our lives. This is especially reflected in the school stage, where teachers teach through different techniques and methodologies. In the current educational system, however, one type of learning prevails: receptive learning .

In this article we will know what it consists of; in addition, we will analyze its characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, and we will see how it differs from other more active types of learning: constructivist or significant learning.

Receptive learning: what is it?

Receptive learning is a type or method of learning that consists of the teacher teaching or transmitting a certain theme already elaborated and “processed”, and the student simply receives it and memorizes it through repeated exposure to it.

In other words, the only task that the student must do in this case in order to learn is to “listen and absorb” the information provided by the teacher (or another person).

Through this type of learning, the student actually makes virtually no cognitive effort, since he or she is limited to “memorizing” or “retaining” the information provided. In other words, receptive learning does not focus so much on the student relating previous concepts or drawing his own conclusions , but rather on receiving and remembering the information as it is presented to him.

A kind of insufficient learning?

In this way, receptive learning does not require a great cognitive effort beyond review and repetition , since it does not allow the student to modify his previous cognitive structures or change other knowledge he already has. This makes it become, in a certain way, a limiting or insufficient learning, which does not promote reflection or deeper understanding, but the mere repetition of the contents.

Thus, the learning that the student will end up acquiring through receptive learning will always be more superficial and less lasting than other learning obtained through other more active or constructivist methodologies, as we will see later.

Therefore, although receptive learning has certain benefits and is useful in certain situations or when faced with certain issues, it has been criticized as “unique” learning, especially in recent years. In other words, the ideal is for the student to learn through different learning processes, not just through this one. But what alternatives to it are proposed?

Differences with constructivist learning

For all the above reasons, receptive learning is increasingly being complemented with other types of learning that require more cognitive effort on the part of the student ; this has been especially addressed by constructivist orientations, which encourage a type of learning based on the construction of the world by the student.

In this second case we talk about a constructivist learning, which provides a really significant learning , and where the student creates his own knowledge and conclusions through the contents or keys provided by the teacher.

This type of learning gives the student an active role in the construction of knowledge, as opposed to receptive learning, where the student has a passive role and the teacher an active role.

Educational system

Although fortunately alternatives and other complementary options to receptive learning already exist, it is true that in the current education system this type of learning is still in place and practically the only one used. Thus, becomes the basis of the educational system and academic training .

But… what are the characteristics of receptive learning in the school context?

Characteristics of receptive learning

The most outstanding characteristics of it (and which allow us to distinguish it from other types of learning) are the following:

1. Active role of the teacher

In receptive learning the attention is on the teacher, who maintains an active role . Thus, this type of learning is centred on the teacher, on how he/she explains and transmits the information to his/her students. On the other hand, the student himself maintains a passive role as a mere “receiver of information”

2. Importance of memory

As we have already mentioned, receptive learning is based above all on “memorizing” content and being able to reproduce it later (for example in an exam). That is why this type of learning is also considered “repetitive” learning, where memory also plays a key role.

Thus, as through receptive learning the student cannot draw conclusions that are too revealing , elaborate his own knowledge, modify his previous cognitive structures, etc. (as he could do with constructivist learning). He must limit himself to exposing himself repeatedly to knowledge, so that he can end up memorizing it and, in a certain way, internalizing it.

The advantage of this is that can be considered a “low cost” learning (at least at a cognitive level); on the contrary, it only manages to create rather superficial learning.

3. Possibility of teaching many at once

Another characteristic of, and advantage of, receptive learning is that it is a type of teaching that can be provided to several (even many) learners at once.

In this way, the teacher gives his lesson or transmits his explanations to several students at once. This makes it the “easiest” methodology to apply and the most economical for the educational system, and that is why it remains the current methodology.

4. Areas of application

Receptive learning takes place at all school stages, especially in pre-school, primary and secondary education . It also exists in universities, but its presence is reduced, since in these higher academic contexts there is a growing commitment to an education that promotes the critical spirit of students and their capacity to make decisions.

The more possibilities there are to interact with the teacher, the more possibilities there will be for other, more active types of learning, as the student will be able to respond, reflect on the explanations, propose alternatives, etc.

Advantages

Although receptive learning has the disadvantages mentioned throughout the article, it also has some advantages.

The main one is that receptive learning can take place relatively easily; simply the student must be attentive to the teacher’s explanations so that he or she can understand and retain the information . Another advantage is its low cost; that is, a single teacher can teach many students at a time.

In addition, for some specific subjects where it is more important to memorize than to understand or reflect, receptive learning can be a good option, although active learning will always be more enriching for the student.

Bibliographic references:

  • Moreira, B.A. (2012) What is meaningful learning in the end? Qurriculum Magazine, 25: 29-56.
  • Sampascual, G. (2007). Educational Psychology. 2 Volumes. UNED. Madrid.