Examples of Active Learning Strategies: 3 Effective Examples That Actually Work

When people ask for examples of active learning strategies: 3 effective examples, retrieval practice always makes my top three. It’s simple: instead of re-reading, you try to pull information out of your brain without looking at your notes first.

Think of your memory like a muscle. Reading is like watching someone else work out. Retrieval practice is you actually lifting the weights.

Here’s how this example of active learning looks in real life:

• A student studying for the SAT sets a 10-minute timer, closes their notebook, and writes down everything they remember about algebraic functions. Only after the timer goes off do they open the book and check what they missed.
• A nursing student preparing for pharmacology exams covers the right side of a drug chart (indications, side effects) and tries to recall each one from memory, row by row.
• A history student writes out a rough timeline of World War II from memory, then compares it to their notes and fills in missing events in a different color.

Researchers keep finding that retrieval practice beats passive review for long-term learning. The American Psychological Association highlights retrieval practice as a high-utility strategy for learning and test prep (APA).

How to Use Retrieval Practice in Your Daily Study Routine

To turn this into one of your best examples of active learning strategies, try building it into the start or end of every study session.

You might:

• Start with a blank page brain dump: Write everything you remember about a topic before looking at your notes.
• Use digital flashcards (like Anki or Quizlet) that force you to answer before revealing the correct response.
• Do closed-book practice problems first, then open-book review.

For example, if you’re studying biology, you might:

1. Close your book.
2. Draw a quick sketch of a cell and label every part you can remember.
3. Then open your notes and add what you missed in a different color.

That contrast between what you thought you knew and what you actually know is where the learning happens.

Why Retrieval Practice Works So Well for Test Prep

If your goal is to perform under pressure—SAT, ACT, MCAT, nursing boards, AP exams, professional certifications—retrieval practice is one of the best examples of active learning strategies you can use.

It helps you:

• Get used to recalling information without cues, just like on an exam.
• Spot your weak spots quickly, instead of assuming you “know it” because it looks familiar.
• Strengthen memory by repeatedly pulling information from your brain.

The University of Texas at Austin’s learning center explains that retrieval practice builds stronger memory traces and improves long-term retention (UT Austin).

If you only pick one example of active learning to start with, make it this.

2. Teaching, Explaining, and the Feynman Technique

Another of the best examples of active learning strategies: 3 effective examples is turning yourself into the teacher. You don’t need a classroom. You just need a topic and a willingness to sound a little weird talking to yourself.

The idea is simple: if you can explain a concept in plain language, you probably understand it. If you can’t, you’ve just discovered a gap.

This is often called the Feynman Technique, named after physicist Richard Feynman, who was famous for explaining complex ideas in simple terms.

Real Examples of “Teaching” as Active Learning

Here’s what this example of active learning looks like for different students:

• A high school student studying for AP U.S. History pretends to teach a 5-minute “mini-lesson” on the causes of the Civil War to an imaginary class. No notes allowed. Afterward, they check their textbook and add what they missed.
• A pre-med student explains the cardiac cycle to a roommate using only plain language and simple drawings on a whiteboard. If the roommate looks confused, that’s feedback.
• A working professional studying for a project management certification records a short voice memo explaining the difference between Agile and Waterfall methods as if training a new coworker.

In all of these cases, the student is actively organizing, simplifying, and connecting ideas—not just staring at a page.

Step-by-Step: How to Use the Feynman Technique

To turn this into one of your go-to examples of active learning strategies, follow this pattern:

1. Pick a specific concept, not a whole chapter. For example: “photosynthesis,” not “all of biology.”
2. Explain it out loud in simple language, as if talking to a middle schooler or a friend from a different major.
3. Notice where you get stuck or start using vague words like “stuff” or “things.” Those are your weak spots.
4. Go back to your notes or textbook to clarify those weak spots.
5. Explain it again, this time clearer and more organized.

You can do this:

• In front of a mirror
• To a friend or study group
• Into a voice recorder on your phone
• On paper, writing a “teach it to a 12-year-old” explanation

Why Teaching Is One of the Best Examples of Active Learning

Teaching forces you to:

• Organize information into a logical sequence.
• Translate jargon into simple terms.
• Fill in gaps you didn’t realize were there.

Harvard’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning notes that explaining concepts and engaging in peer instruction are powerful forms of active learning that improve understanding and retention (Harvard).

If you’ve ever thought, “I get it until I have to explain it,” this strategy is your new reality check.

3. Active Practice: Problems, Scenarios, and Spaced Repetition

The third of our examples of active learning strategies: 3 effective examples is what I like to call active practice. This is where you stop just reading about skills and start doing them.

Active practice means you:

• Work through problems
• Apply concepts to real or realistic scenarios
• Space your practice over time instead of cramming

Concrete Examples of Active Practice

Here are some real examples of how students use active practice as an example of active learning:

• A math student doesn’t just read the solution in the textbook. They cover the solution, attempt the problem themselves, then compare step-by-step.
• An LSAT student works through logic games with a timer, then reviews not just the right answers but why each wrong answer is wrong.
• A nursing student uses case scenarios: “A patient presents with X, Y, Z symptoms. What are the top three possible causes?” They talk through their reasoning before checking an answer key.
• A language learner writes short paragraphs using new vocabulary, then uses an online tool or tutor feedback to correct mistakes.

In each case, the student is actively using the material, not just passively reviewing it.

Spaced Repetition: The Quiet Powerhouse Behind Active Practice

If you want your active practice to stick, spacing your sessions over time matters more than you think. Instead of one 4-hour cram, you get better results with four 1-hour sessions spread over a week.

This spacing effect is one of the most reliable findings in learning science. The National Institutes of Health notes that spaced repetition improves long-term retention compared with massed practice (cramming) (NIH).

To turn spaced repetition into one of your best examples of active learning strategies:

• Use flashcard apps that automatically space reviews.
• Revisit old practice questions a few days later, not just once.
• Rotate subjects across the week instead of blocking one subject all day.

Blending Active Practice with the Other Strategies

The real magic happens when you combine these three effective examples of active learning strategies:

• Start with retrieval practice: Brain dump what you know.
• Move into teaching/explaining: Talk through the concept out loud.
• Finish with active practice: Do problems, apply to scenarios, or create something (a summary sheet, a concept map, a practice quiz).

For example, a student prepping for a chemistry exam might:

1. Spend 10 minutes recalling everything they know about acids and bases.
2. Spend 10 minutes explaining pH and pKa out loud, pretending to teach a class.
3. Spend 30 minutes doing practice problems and reviewing mistakes.

That 50-minute block uses three real examples of active learning strategies in one short session.

How These Strategies Fit 2024–2025 Study Trends

If you’re studying in 2024–2025, you’re likely juggling:

• Online or hybrid classes
• Recorded lectures
• AI tools and digital resources

The good news: these examples of active learning strategies adapt beautifully.

• Watching a recorded lecture? Pause every 5–10 minutes and write down what you remember (retrieval), then hit play and check.
• Using AI or online explanations? After reading, explain the concept back in your own words without looking, then compare.
• Doing digital question banks? Treat them as active practice, not just answer-hunting. For every missed question, write a one-sentence takeaway: “Next time, I’ll remember that…”

Active learning isn’t about fancy apps. It’s about what you do with the material.

Putting It All Together: A Sample 60-Minute Active Learning Session

Here’s how you might use these examples of active learning strategies: 3 effective examples in one focused hour of test prep:

• Minutes 0–10: Retrieval Practice
  Close your notes. On a blank page, write everything you remember about today’s topic (say, “cell division” or “supply and demand”).

• Minutes 10–25: Teaching/Explaining
  Pick 2–3 subtopics from your brain dump and explain them out loud, as if teaching a friend. Mark any parts where you hesitate or feel fuzzy.

• Minutes 25–55: Active Practice
  Do practice questions, problems, or scenarios on the same topic. For each missed or guessed question, write a quick explanation of the correct reasoning.

• Minutes 55–60: Quick Review and Plan
  Jot down 3–5 concepts to revisit in your next session (this sets up spaced repetition).

Repeat this pattern over a week and you’ll feel a very different kind of confidence going into your exam.

FAQ: Common Questions About Active Learning Strategies

What are some simple examples of active learning strategies I can start today?

Three of the best examples of active learning strategies you can start today are: retrieval practice (brain dumps, flashcards, closed-book recall), teaching or explaining concepts out loud (the Feynman Technique), and active practice with problems, scenarios, or writing tasks. Even a 10-minute brain dump before you open your notes is a powerful example of active learning.

Can you give an example of active learning for someone who studies alone?

Absolutely. Here’s a solo-friendly example of active learning: set a 5-minute timer, explain a concept out loud as if teaching a friend, record yourself on your phone, then listen back while checking your notes. Notice where you left things out or sounded unsure. Those spots become your next study targets. You’ve just combined retrieval, teaching, and reflection—all on your own.

Are group activities the only real examples of active learning strategies?

Not at all. Group work can be helpful, but many of the best examples of active learning strategies are individual: self-quizzing, practice questions, teaching to an imaginary audience, writing summaries from memory, and creating your own practice tests. Active learning is about mental effort and engagement, not how many people are in the room.

How often should I use these 3 effective examples of active learning?

Aim to use at least one of these strategies in every study session, and ideally rotate through all three across the week. For example, Monday could focus more on retrieval practice, Wednesday on teaching/explaining, and Friday on heavier active practice with questions. The more consistently you use these examples of active learning strategies, the more natural they become.

Do these strategies work for standardized tests like the SAT, MCAT, or NCLEX?

Yes. In fact, exams that require problem solving, application, and critical thinking benefit the most from active learning. Retrieval practice helps you recall formulas and facts quickly, teaching helps you deeply understand concepts, and active practice with realistic questions prepares you for the exact kind of thinking those tests demand.

If you take nothing else from this, remember this: learning happens when you struggle a little. These three effective examples of active learning strategies—retrieval practice, teaching/explaining, and active practice—create that productive struggle in short, manageable bursts.

You don’t need more hours. You need better minutes. And these strategies will help you get them.