Active Learning encompasses evidence-based techniques where learners actively engage with material through effortful cognitive processing rather than passive consumption. Rooted in cognitive science research, active learning strategies leverage how the brain encodes, stores, and retrieves information—emphasizing engagement, spacing, challenge, and self-generation. Unlike passive methods like re-reading or highlighting, active learning demands mental effort that creates stronger, more durable memory traces. The key insight: making learning feel harder during study often produces significantly better long-term retention and transfer.