Active Learning requires the learner to create and make sense of knowledge through an experience. This is quite different to having knowledge provided, as would be the case if a lecturer imparted knowledge (which could be 80%). It is often necessary for the learning process to move away from the passive receiving mode of knowledge transfer to a re-experiencing of ideas. Thoughts and ideas are not always easy to convert to "objects". The way for ideas to be re-experienced is through techniques such as co-operative learning and experiential learning. These techniques are recognised as being part of the active learning process - and it is a process; students need to assume responsibility for the knowledge that they are going to acquire, or the skills that need to develop, through their own actions, own decisions, life choices, methods of study, methods of learning and learning style.
This needs to be balanced with a need for the learner to have some reinforcement that the kind of "doing" or interaction with something or some person or some group, is also helping the learner to re-process the learning or the facts. Although this reinforcement is balanced by the learner's own abilities to find their own answers from the facts or a body of knowledge, in order to succeed, the learner receives immediate feedback or that they are allowed to solicit feedback on an activity in order to improve their understanding and awareness in the future. Some active learning techniques take little preparation and may be done spontaneously; others require much more preparation. In essence the learner can either work alone or in a pair, or in a group or in the work place to answer critical questions, write a "review" or a reflective piece, or apply a theory.(200-300) words
The Literature Review 
Web links on active learning 
Active Citizenship
Active Learning
Social and Moral Responsibility