Memoristic learning: characteristics and techniques to enhance it.

A type of learning necessary to internalize elements of general culture.

The learning process is a very complex phenomenonand even more so in human beings.

Regardless of the age of the person, and whether he or she is being educated at school or only through other means, learning means mobilizing a large amount of resources both in our body and in the way we interact with the environment and with others.

Therefore, in order to try to better understand how we manage to adapt to the environment, learning is often subdivided into several types of learning, each of which has its own characteristics. In this article we will see what is rote learningwhat are the characteristics that define it, and several examples.

What is rote learning?

While all forms of learning are related and often overlap with each other, what characterizes rote learning is that it is all about retaining information as accurately and literally as possible, without trying to create an interpretation of it that is as accurate as possible.It does not try to create an interpretation of it that is easier to link with the knowledge we already have and therefore easier to "store" in our memory.

Consequently, rote learning prioritizes accuracy over flexibility in interpreting the new information that we must integrate into our memory.

Thus, rote learning usually requires a conscious effort to remember something, and good attention management so that other stimuli or memories are not mixed with the experience of memorizing.

In addition, it must be taken into account that rote learning is practically the opposite of meaningful learningand therefore there are many differences between the two.

While rote learning is based on the integration of memories as faithful as possible to the information we came into contact with the first time we set out to memorize it, in meaningful learning the most important thing is to develop our own network of concepts and memories that explain in the best possible way what we have to learn, without worrying so much about fidelity to the original.

Characteristics of this memorization process

Among the characteristics of this type of learning are the following.

1. It requires voluntary effort

In this way of learning it is necessary to reffort to memorize elements and, at the same time, to concentrate on this task, so that the attention on this task, so that attention is focused on the task.

2. It uses several types of memory

In rote learning, several types of memory are involved, which function at different rates, allowing the information to be consolidated in the brain.

For example, on the one hand, there is the working memory, which serves to mentally manipulate ideas and concepts seconds after coming into contact with these novel elements; then this information passes to the short-term memory, which lasts several hours, and finally, if well memorized, it passes to the long-term memory, which functions for months or years, this information passes to the long-term memory, which functions for months or years..

3. Create mental representations that are as faithful as possible.

In rote learning, all behavior is reinforced that is aimed at maintaining a mental representation that is faithful to the original concept to be memorized. to be memorized. Anything that has to do with distorting this representation is discouraged.

4. Creates imperfect memories

This characteristic is characteristic of all types of learning, and has to do with the fact that all memories are deformed as time goes by. all memories become distorted as time goes by, unless it is about certain contents of semantic memoryThis is the case for certain contents of the semantic memory (that which contains vocabulary such as the word "Russia").

Consequently, the fidelity sought with rote learning is relative; it is not intended to retain that exact information forever.

Techniques for learning in this way

Here are some of the most commonly used rote learning techniques:

Repetition

Consists of repeating over and over again the reading or pronunciation of the contents to be memorized, first very frequently and progressively more and more frequently.It consists of repeating over and over again the reading or the pronunciation of the contents to be memorized, first very frequently and progressively less frequently.

Phonetic approximations

This technique is based on looking for an association between the words to be memorized and others that are already known, whose words have a similar pronunciation and that we can relate to the new concepts in some way.

Story method

This consists of tracing a narrative created by us that allows us to unite in the same to unite in the same narrative thread all the words to be remembered..

Mental tests

In this case, we review by asking ourselves questions that we must answer based on what we have studied. In this way, we discover things we did not know or had forgotten, by reviewing again to do better the next time.

Advantages and disadvantages

It is common to find criticism of the idea of learning by rote, but we must keep in mind that rote learning is very important in many aspects of life. is very important in many aspects of life.. For example, it is impossible to learn a new language without using techniques adapted to rote learning, and the same is true for many aspects of general culture.

Thus, the key is to know the advantages and disadvantages of rote learning in order to know when to encourage it and when to favor other methods.

For example, the main disadvantages of rote learning are that it requires somewhat monotonous and mechanical methods based on repetition and review of content already seen. This makes it boringEach new repetition provides little more than the consolidation of the memory, which in itself is not necessarily very stimulating.

The advantages of rote learning, on the other hand, are that it allows learning a wide variety of elements from very similar methods that are easy to master once the habit has been generated, on the one hand, and that its fruits are noticeable in the short term as long as the corresponding time and constancy are invested in it.

Bibliographical references:

• Cowan, N. (1995). Attention and Memory: An Integrated Frame Network. New York: Oxford university Press.
• Eysenck, M.W. (2012). Fundamentals of cognition. New York: Psychology Press.