The world would have been perfect (near perfect) if learners would soak in knowledge and make a difference in the world around them. Indeed, we do have such learners, who actively seek online events, never miss an online activity, participate aggressively in collaborations and hand in A grade assessments.
These learners have the innate ability to convert knowledge into performance and hone their personal lives at the same time. They are a true inspiration in the learning community. Unfortunately, they are far and few in numbers.
The others are un-ceremonially pronounced as “passive” learners. These individuals seek, capture and absorb information but do not apply it beyond the virtual setting. You could say that they also turn in A grade assignments and similar assessments, but you do not see a change in their behavior or attitude in the work context.