According to Dr. Dale's Cone of Learning, students retain 90% of what they learn by:

Dr. Dale's Cone of Learning illustrates how retention rates improve when learners engage in active participation. The highest level of retention, which is cited at 90%, is associated with the combination of both saying and doing. This means that when students verbally articulate what they are learning while simultaneously putting that knowledge into practice, they create a deeper connection and understanding of the material.

This method of learning effectively reinforces concepts, as students not only process the information through verbalization but also apply it in a practical context. The act of doing actively engages learners and helps solidify their knowledge through experience, while saying it out loud further enhances memory retention.

The other options, such as simply listening or seeing, involve less active engagement and, therefore, correlate with lower retention rates. Listening typically results in only about 5-20% retention, while visual aids may improve retention to around 30-50%. However, it is the combination of verbal and practical engagement that maximizes the retention percentage to the fullest, making it a crucial method for effective learning according to Dr. Dale's findings.