You Can't Escape Memorizing

Plato Warned Us

Today, rote memorization has become a controversial subject in the education system.

In recent years, the educational zeitgeist has changed such that focusing solely on the memorization of key facts is no longer considered the best use of ones time. After all, knowledge can be looked up in a matter of seconds, so why bother memorizing it? This is evident in our schools having shifted towards a more critical thinking focused curriculum.

However, the effectiveness of that shift is still up for debate, as many argue that memorization is an important part of becoming an expert in a subject. Plato, even in ancient times, recognized the importance of knowledge in developing expertise. In his words,

"If men learn this (writing), it will implant forgetfulness in their souls. They will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is written, calling things to remembrance no longer from within themselves, but by means of external marks."

–Excerpt from Plato’s Phaedrus, 370 BCE

Based on my personal experience, I believe that having a solid foundation of knowledge, including memorizing certain key facts, is still essential to becoming an expert. I would estimate that knowing 500 facts places one in the 85th percentile in terms of knowledge surrounding a particular topic, while knowing 1000 facts puts one in the 90th percentile.

For someone interested in Japanese, only about 2,200 characters make up the majority of kanji seen in everday use, which could be learned within a year with dedicated practice.

The human brain has a tendency to discard information that it deems not valuable, making it difficult to remember abstract concepts. But regurgitating facts too is not enough. How then, should we approach education?

An Institutional Shift Towards "Critical Thinking"

The current education system has shifted its focus from a memorization-based curriculum to one that prioritizes critical thinking and understanding. However, the effectiveness of this change is still a topic of debate. While comprehending a subject deeply is crucial, the value of memorization cannot be ignored.

I believe a focus on memorization is still the best way for becoming an expert for three reasons:

Not Avoiding Difficult Things – One reason for this is that our current emphasis on critical thinking and comprehension has not yet resulted in remarkable outcomes. How much of this is related to the fear and difficulty associated with memorization? An effective educational system should not only acknowledge this challenge, but also encourage students to embrace the discomfort and difficulty of memorization.
You Can't Memorize Something Without Learning – The reality is that memory plays a significant role in learning. You cannot effectively memorize something without understanding it since your brain automatically connects dots and fills in concepts.
It's Becoming Easier to Gamify – Finally, the advancements in technology make it easier than ever to automate memory-based learning and use state-of-the-art algorithms to help in the process. This makes it easier to establish memorization as a habit in your learning routine.

1. Embracing the Challenge of Deep Processing

The theory of deep processing highlights the significance of effortful and engaging learning methods for effective retention and recall of information. Studies have shown that the more challenging it is to learn something, the higher the chances of it being retained in one's long-term memory.

For instance, consider learning the capitals of all 50 US states. Simply reading through a list is unlikely to result in long-term retention, as opposed to actively engaging with the information through methods such as creating flashcards, self-testing, and practical application.

In today's rapidly changing world, the ability to learn new things quickly and thoroughly has become increasingly important, regardless of whether it's changing careers or learning a new language. Deep processing offers a faster path to expertise compared to the traditional idea of dedicating 10,000 hours of practice to reach mastery.

While deep processing may require more effort and be uncomfortable compared to shallow learning methods, the outcomes are better and the information retained for a longer duration. Striking a balance between understanding and deep processing is key to truly internalizing and retaining information for the long-term.

By embracing the discomfort of deep processing, you can not only gain a deeper understanding of a concept but also effectively store it in their memory for future recall. Rather than relying solely on a "comprehension-first" approach to learning, it's crucial to embrace the challenges of deep processing for optimal outcomes.

2. Memorization Leads to Learning

Imagine learning as the sprouting of a new plant, growing in different directions and at different speeds as it searches for the richest soil to lay its roots. Memorizing single facts is not a poor strategy in this context, as confusion often drives us to seek out more information and deepen our understanding.

Your brain is incredibly efficient at filling in gaps; often, all it needs is the right information, and intuition follows naturally.

In a data science context, solely focusing on memorization is like training an AI model based only on more training examples and hoping that the model recognizes key patterns. Expectedly, this can sometimes yield good results.

However, a better approach would be to pre-process the inputs into more manageable features, reducing computational load and increasing the likelihood that reasonable relationships form. This corresponds to understanding and chunking information before memorizing it.

Another way to view it is that memorizing facts creates "memory hooks" where "islands of understanding" can take hold. When studying an unfamiliar topic, there are few hooks to anchor to, making it more challenging to connect new information. By memorizing key facts, we create these hooks and lay the foundation for deeper understanding.

Imagine you're a detective. Ultimately, the goal of memorization is to gather increasing amounts of evidence about a topic until a point is reached where you can self-correct.

For example, if you are trying to learn a new language, simply memorizing vocabulary words will not make you fluent. It is the combination of memorization, practice, and application in the real world that helps you to understand the structure of the language and apply it in real-life situations. This is also why memorization is an important skill, but not sufficient alone.

3. Habitize Learning for Success

Students who struggle to pay attention in class are not just being lazy. In fact, the blame for a lack of learning cannot always be placed solely on the student.

There are numerous reasons why someone might struggle to learn, such as the delivery of material, outdated teaching methods, lack of accessibility options, and even distance from the institution. It's important to understand that there are often many failure points in the educational system.

Don Norman, a professor of engineering, suggests that we shift our focus from blaming individual students to thinking about how we can make systemic changes that will prevent failures from happening. Just like the aviation industry has implemented this approach to make their systems safer, schools and universities should do the same if we think about what's at stake. A well-designed system is not only more likely to succeed, but it will also be more resilient to change.

The future of education must be about creating systems that make it easy for anyone to learn, regardless of their background. Personalized formats that engage students and make it easy to digest the material are key. Fortunately, tools like Anki and Obsidian offer free options to automate the learning process and help with understanding, memorization, and recall.

Not only can the recall process reveal personal weaknesses in a subject that even experienced educators may miss, a single fact that seems confusing during a review session can also serve as a prompt to dig deeper into the subject and further develop mastery. This process gamifies learning and takes advantage of our natural curiosity.

It's clear that being knowledgeable is a crucial aspect of becoming an expert. And if you're determined to become one, it may not take as long as you think.

👋 Thanks for making it to the end!