A common form of education we are probably all somewhat familiar with from our earliest school days is rote learning, or rote memorization. This learning method involves committing things to memory through memorization. You may even know this activity as a drill. By saying or writing the information over and over, you are drilling it into your mind. Critics say that rote memorization is ineffective, as it is likely to lead to only short-term knowledge. They argue that maintaining information in your memory for the long haul requires in-depth learning practices that involve more advanced and meaningful strategies. However, repetitive learning can be beneficial in specific circumstances. Read on to learn about this technique, when you should use it and examples of particular strategies.
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Views on Rote Memorization
Simply learning facts without an understanding of their deeper meaning and the ways in which such information can be put to practical use is seen as a negative of rote memorization. It is believed that such superficial learning doesn’t allow students to understand a concept, thus rendering the activity pointless in most scenarios. On the flip side, proponents feel that this type of introductory learning can be beneficial as a way of approaching some material. Young children, for instance, can learn the very basics of a larger system such as the letters of the alphabet, later taking steps to discover the many ways in which each letter is used individually, as well as to form words and sentences. Multiplication tables and foreign language vocabulary are other instances in which memorization can be useful.
Benefits of Learning by Rote
There are a number of theories as to why learning by repetitive memorization can be beneficial to students of various ages and abilities. One school of thought says that such learning methods can instill confidence in students. They feel more secure once they are able to rattle off the basics of a concept, such as their multiplication tables. They may then feel more at ease with the idea of applying that knowledge to higher level math concepts. It’s been said that rote memorization is good brain exercise. Repetitive facts and information entering the brain can help to strengthen certain neurological pathways, improving ease of future recall. Another view is that repetition in learning allows the learner to gain insight into the information that may have been missed if such intense repetitive exposure had not occurred. Such insights can allow for more in-depth learning of related material.
The Good and the Bad
As you can see, there are both positive views of rote methods to learning and negative thoughts on the subject. The key is to use rote strategies in proper context and not to become dependent upon them as a quick fix. Cramming for a history exam through the repetitive use of flashcards may not be the best approach to actually understanding and being able to use the material. However, using a similar flashcard technique to memorize vocabulary words and their meanings can be quite helpful to students. Knowing the meanings of the words is the beginning step toward mastery use of language.
While views on the topic of rote memorization are mixed, the important thing is to approach each situation individually. Rote learning can be incredibly effective in the appropriate context.
