Why Learning Through Doing Beats "Death by PowerPoint"

The Problem with Passive Learning

Sitting through a slideshow with endless bullet points has become the dreaded hallmark of workplace training. It's uninspiring, disengaging, and often ineffective. You’ve likely heard the term “death by PowerPoint,” and it’s all too apt—blank stares, waning attention spans, and a room full of participants forgetting 90% of the information by the next day. Let’s face it: simply talking at people doesn’t work. It’s like trying to teach someone to ride a bike by lecturing them in a classroom. Learning is most effective when it’s hands-on, interactive, and memorable.

Why Actions Speak Louder Than Slides

Imagine this: instead of sitting through a lecture on customer service tips, your team splits into small groups to create short videos highlighting bad versus good customer service. One team stages a tongue-in-cheek scenario of a surly waiter refusing to seat a guest. Another group films a cheerful, solution-oriented exchange between a sales associate and a frustrated shopper. Not only are these activities highly engaging, but they also help participants actively process and retain key messages through creativity and collaboration.

Why does this approach work so well? Because learning sticks when people are emotionally and physically engaged. Hands-on activities stimulate different parts of the brain, embedding what you’ve learnt deeper into your memory. Humour, teamwork, and visual storytelling add layers to the experience that make it unforgettable.

At the heart of it, learning by doing isn’t about replacing all forms of traditional training—it’s about elevating the experience with activities that spark creativity, connect teams, and make lessons stick. Approaching training in a way that's fun, engaging, and interactive encourages participants to not only learn but to remember.

Breaking Away from Monotony: Avoiding Death by PowerPoint

So, how do you steer away from the unengaging pitfall of PowerPoint? Here are some actionable tips:

Blend Activities with Information Replace lengthy lectures with collaborative activities. A blended approach, where participants tackle real-world challenges together, makes the training day more dynamic and engaging. For instance, instead of just describing effective communication strategies, let teams practice them by solving a workplace scenario. The problem-solving process becomes the learning.

Create Visual and Experiential Challenges People learn best when they’re doing something meaningful. Activities like photo or video challenges allow participants to take key training concepts and turn them into shared, memorable outcomes. For example, role-playing scenarios and recording them provides a fun, energetic way to demonstrate principles like teamwork or customer service excellence.

Use Digital Tools for Follow-Up A lot of organisations struggle with knowledge retention after the initial training day. Sharing the funny and insightful videos or quirky photos created during the session 1, 3, or even 6 months later is a brilliant way to refresh those ideas. Reinforcement through visuals makes the original lesson feel as vivid as the moment it happened.

Planning and incorporating these elements might seem daunting at first, but they can be seamlessly executed with platforms tailored to team-building experiences. Interactive team activities designed with creativity and fun in mind are an excellent tool for amplifying learning outcomes while supporting team cohesion.

The Magic of Interactive Learning for Team Building

When you tap into experiential learning, you’re letting your team truly come alive. Imagine the energy in the room when groups collaborate on capturing the “most creative” team selfie or crafting a funny clip that summarises a typical “office misstep.” Laughter starts to flow, barriers break down, and individuals contribute their unique ideas. These shared experiences not only create valuable lessons but also build stronger workplace camaraderie.

Want to know the best part? These activities work wonders for employees of all kinds. Whether it’s a new hire going through onboarding or a seasoned professional in a leadership course, experiential learning connects people through mutual understanding, respect, and creativity.

And it’s not just about having a laugh (though that’s a massive benefit). Teams often leave these sessions with concrete takeaways, better communication, and a renewed sense of direction—which are all critical workplace goals. These moments, combined with active learning, cement ideas far more powerfully than sitting through slide after slide of data.

Mastering Memory Through Meaningful Experiences

We’ve all sat through forgettable presentations in the past. But how many times have you heard someone excitedly recount a training activity they took part in years ago? That’s because activities filled with joy and relevance are far more impactful than passive sessions. Hands-on learning doesn’t just entertain—it ties emotional significance to lessons.

For instance, a team who crafts amusing videos or takes part in silly but strategic treasure hunts often recalls the lessons behind those activities for years. Why? Because the experience made them feel something. It’s that emotional connection that truly embeds knowledge.

When training initiatives are both entertaining and strategic, you transform information into something memorable. That’s what sticks. And the tools to make it happen have never been easier to access. Platforms like MAKE empower individuals and companies to design immersive sessions, no matter where their teams are located—remote, in-person, or hybrid.

Making the Case for Creative Training

Learning through doing isn’t just trendy—it’s backed by research. Studies show that people retain up to 75% of knowledge when they engage in hands-on activities, compared to just 10% from passive listening. In a world where workplace training is a necessity, organisations can no longer afford to stick to outdated methods. It’s time for leaders to rethink the structure of their team-building and learning initiatives.

By incorporating photo and video challenges, interactive problem-solving tasks, and adaptable tools, you can easily modernise your training processes. What’s more, these activities celebrate collaboration and creativity, values that reflect what today’s workforce truly cares about.

So, if you’re planning your next training session or team engagement day, skip the snooze-fest of stock slide decks. Instead, bring your team together for unforgettable hands-on experiences, and watch your workforce grow in knowledge, unity, and passion for what they do.