Helieng,
"Active interest" is usually regarded as being in situ when the job in question is carried out. This could mean leaning over the shoulder of the person carrying out the task and asking dumb questions, reading the MM about the task being carried out or quizzing the LAE certifying on what he is checking.
Whichever way you do it before I had a license or since I have never had a problem with passing on experience, so just forget you ego and ask!