What is the primary purpose of the cone of learning?

The primary purpose of the cone of learning is to provide a visual representation of how different methods of teaching and learning lead to varying levels of retention and understanding. The cone illustrates that active learning methods tend to result in better retention compared to passive methods. While communication skills are indeed crucial in effective teaching, the focus of the cone itself is more broadly about the hierarchy of learning experiences and the efficacy of those experiences in promoting learner retention.

The options that fall outside the primary purpose of the cone include methods of assessment, which are important but do not directly relate to retention rates depicted in the cone; the effectiveness of teaching materials, which is a component of teaching but not the cone's main focus; and categorizing different teaching styles, which can be part of a broader conversation about effective teaching strategies, but again does not capture the essence of what the cone of learning demonstrates regarding retention.