critical thinking rote learning

Rote Learning Vs Critical Thinking

Learning is defined as the acquisition of knowledge or skills. Knowledge and skills are acquired in various ways:

Teaching techniques have come a long way, and though memorization still has its place in learning, current teaching standards recognize the value of meaningful learning and critical thinking. On the other hand, the concept of standards-based education, while not without some merit, encourages rote learning without much emphasis on critical thinking.

What is Rote Learning?

Ah, multiplication tables, state capitols, lists of presidents. Do you recall memorizing these in school? These lists of memorized facts are an example of rote learning.

Rote learning can be useful when quick learning is required, such as memorizing a telephone number or address or learning lines for a play. Some students appreciate rote learning techniques when cramming for an exam.

What is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is often described as being self-directed and self-corrective, meaning under your control and initiative and compensating for your weaknesses and biases. Critical thinking includes problem-solving skills and effective communication skills as well.

Research has also shown that rote memory exercises, followed by a rest and absorption period, improved memory and recall by causing metabolic changes in the hippocampus.

Benefits of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking skills are vital in allowing you to find answers to questions or problems that you have not previously encountered. Memorization may not provide the necessary ability to solve any issue that deviates from the memorized material.

Meaningful or “Deep” Learning

The reason for this is that our brains can only hold so much information. Each time a new piece of information is introduced our brains have to make a decision about how relevant that piece of information is. If we don’t use the newly acquired information in a meaningful way our brains have no reason to keep it around and it is not transferred to long-term memory.

Back to Critical Thinking

Rote learning by definition does not involve critical thinking at all and does not require understanding. This is why when the question of rote learning vs critical thinking comes up many modern educators and scholars condemn the practice of rote learning.

In Conclusion

Although rote learning is discounted by many educators today, it shouldn’t be left out entirely. Rote learning can be useful in memorizing certain facts to make space in our working memories for learning new concepts related to those facts.

Rote Learning vs. Critical Thinking: How an Online Math Tutor Can Help

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Rote Learning vs Critical Thinking – Memory or Intelligence?

by Katherine Reilly

Throughout history, numerous methods of teaching have been adopted in class; the most controversial of which, ‘Rote Learning’. Why is this method of teaching despised by modern educators? Does it have any merits? Should it be abolished completely? Below, we will examine the aspects of this teaching method as well as evaluate the benefits of modern teaching techniques such as the development of critical thinking.

Most of you are probably wondering, “What is Rote Learning?” Simply put, it’s the memorization of information, based on repetition. All of us have had to more or less learn something by heart, be it for an exam or simple instructions needed to accomplish a specific task, after which, this information can be dismissed.

Scholars, rightfully so, condemn this method as it only offers the opportunity to pass an exam, without really understanding the meaning of it. To be more precise, memorizing dates and names for a History test, would mean nothing if the student hasn’t understood the significance of the historic individual’s contribution in question.

Other such examples could be found in foreign language teaching. There is no point in translating hundreds of words from one language to another if you can’t even use a single one of those words in a sentence. A student must learn the deeper meaning of a word, how it is used, its synonyms and above all, other forms it has. It is a widely known fact that mastering a language is the key to understanding other cultures and civilizations, an essential tool in our new global world.

Besides the aforementioned issues, another which is of great concern, is the ability to develop ‘critical thinking’ – perhaps THE most essential tool for survival in today’s world. Repetition and memorization of facts can only get you so far in school or the job market. If one has not the ability to face everyday challenges such as submitting a project for work before its deadline, or simply balancing your financial expenses at home, then the purpose of your education was a complete waste of your time and energies.

Critical thinking is a skill which must be fostered at school from the early years. A child must develop the ability to distinguish between two or more choices and in the long run, learn to think for himself. Self respect and confidence can be nurtured during this process, therefore, leading to an independent individual who can express his opinion, evaluate a situation and make informed choices based on the information given to him.

But it can’t be all bad now, can it? Does Rote Learning have any advantages? Unbeknownst to many, it actually does! Rote Learning in many ways is the basis of education.

Without Rote Learning, a student wouldn’t be able to learn to speak or make calculations. Memorization of phonics in reading, multiplication tables or even the periodic table in chemistry are all examples of the essential use of rote learning.

As for other daily uses of rote learning? Memorizing an address or phone number on the go is an everyday challenge we might face. Other examples include plays or speeches which require the memorization of such material.

In a nutshell, what is the most successful way of learning? Though rote learning has a few benefits, critical thinking is beyond a doubt, the most instrumental tool for the development and successful integration of an individual in society. The key to success is a harmonious balance between the two, resorting to rote learning only in cases of essential memorization while reaping the unlimited potential critical thinking has to offer.

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What is Rote Learning—and is it Effective? A Battle Between Memory and Intelligence

Rote learning is defined as the memorization of information based on repetition. The two best examples of rote learning are the alphabet and numbers. Slightly more complicated examples include multiplication tables and spelling words. At the high-school level, scientific elements and their chemical numbers must be memorized by rote. And, many times, teachers use rote learning without even realizing they do so.

Does rote learning have a place in 21st-century education?

Is rote learning an outdated technique or is there a valid place for its use in the classroom today? Increasingly, rote learning is being abandoned for newer techniques such as associative learning, meta cognition, and critical thinking instead of being used as a functional foundation to higher levels of learning.

It’s always useful to apply meaningful relationships to basic skills. At the end of the day, however, rote learning plays a bigger role than most teachers would like to recognize in today’s learning climate. It’s up to us to leverage our own unique teaching methods to produce the most effective learning environment for our students, and it’s important to keep an open mind around “the right” approach.

The difference between memory and intelligence

The mental ability to memorize is often used as an indicator of intelligence. No doubt, the two are strongly linked, but memory is not always a reliable indicator of intelligence. Working memory does not directly affect the level of intelligence of a student.

Most of the time, a deficit in working memory is due to the structure of learning. Think of working memory as a filing cabinet. If each piece of information has a separate file, finding the information becomes difficult. If factors such as stress, lack of sleep, and distractions are involved, finding the information is even harder. Instead, effective memorization involves categorization of the information and sections within sections of the filing cabinet.

Memory is not a strong indicator of intelligence. Instead, it is linked to interaction of environmental factors and training.

When is there a problem with rote learning?

When rote memorization is applied as the main focus of learning, it is not considered higher-level thought or critical thinking. Opponents to rote memorization argue that creativity in students is stunted and suppressed, and students do not learn how to think, analyze or solve problems. These educators believe, instead, that a more associative or constructive learning should be applied in the classroom. If the majority of the student’s day is spent on repetition, the foundation for learning becomes shaky.

Oftentimes, teachers are scorned for “teaching to the test,” referring to standardized testing, and are criticized for applying rote memorization as a foundational skill. When the role of rote memorization is an end in itself, instead of a means to an end, rote memorization fails as a building block to critical thinking.

When the argument focuses on rote learning as an either/or situation, rote learning is stigmatized as a technique that “lazy” or “uninformed” teachers use. But, in reality, rote learning and higher-level thinking are actually intimately intertwined.

When—and why—is rote learning is useful?

As an alternative approach to subject areas that require memorization with disdain and conflict, teachers can build higher-level critical thinking skills with rote learning as the foundation.

Rote learning as a building block

Consider this: How do students learn the alphabet or multiplication tables if not through rote memorization? For that matter, can a high school chemistry student progress without having the Table of Elements memorized?

While it’s not a means to an end, rote learning is necessary if you want to engage in higher-level thinking. After all, can you do calculus or engineering-math, or even basic algebra, if you constantly have to remember how to multiply or look up functions and operations? That method would take forever. And you won’t likely have “ah-ha” moments or breakthroughs.

As another example, these same principles also applies to spelling. Although everyone today uses word processors with spell check, spelling is still important when filling out forms and writing letters. Knowing how to spell makes writing easier and faster.

To truly engage in higher level thinking, students must first learn basic material and memorize this material so they can refer to it later down the road when dealing with more advanced lessons and learning.

Rote learning is not an either/or matter

Rote learning and memorization do not equal higher-level thinking, and should not replace one for the other. Rote learning, however, is the cornerstone of higher-level thinking and should not be ignored. Especially in today’s advanced technological world, rote memorization might be even more important than ever! Think of rote learning as the the filing system for your brain. If you can easily access the information when performing a certain task, the brain is free to make major leaps in learning.

Rote learning is defined as the memorization of information based on repetition. The two best examples of rote learning are the alphabet and numbers. Slightly more complicated examples include multiplication tables and spelling words. At the high-school level, scientific elements and their chemical numbers must be memorized by rote. And, many times, teachers use rote learning without even realizing they do so.

Rote learning vs. Critical thinking

Post by: Professor Conquer
Last updated on: July 3, 2022

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Learning is simply the acquisition of new knowledge, but it is much more than that. There are more ways to learn than we could count, from rote learning to critical thinking and everything. There are so many different ways to learn that it’s no wonder why people continually debate the best ways.

In this article, we’ll be defining precisely what rote learning and critical thinking are. Then, we’ll discuss the significant differences between the two before finally discussing when you might use one over the other. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll understand the significant differences between rote learning and critical thinking.

What is Rote Learning?

Rote learning is learning by repetition. It is the act of repeating something several times so that you are able to recite back the exact wording. Rote learning is used throughout schooling but often gets a bit of a bad rap since it is based on reciting precise language, not the ability to truly understand what you are learning.

Rote learning, sometimes called rote memorization, is ideal for specific circumstances but unsuitable for others. A great rote memorization example is acting. In acting, you say lines over and over until the exact wording is stuck in your head, thus allowing you to play a different character. This is a classic example of rote learning.

Other times when you might want to use rote learning include learning definitions where one word could change the meaning of the definition or memorizing historical dates. There are many times when the details are essential, and these are cases when rote learning may be super helpful for students.

Historically, rote learning was the basis of education. If you think of school scenes in old films, it was typically students repeating information back to the teacher. While this style of teaching is now frowned upon as not providing the students with the tools they need to process information truly, rote learning is ingrained into our society and education system.

Although this article will focus primarily on the role of rote learning in the education system, it is used throughout modern society. The rise of technology and cell phones may have pushed memorizing phone numbers to the wayside, but there are still things that we need to remember every day. From remembering your address to the password to accessing your cell phone, rote memory can help with lots of daily tasks.

What is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking uses reasoning and logic to interpret and analyze facts to understand the conclusion. This learning style forms the basis for the scientific method and is rooted in many forms of education. Critical thinking has been growing in popularity throughout our modern schooling systems, almost in opposition to older systems, like rote learning.

Critical thinking is often praised as giving students the tools they need to make educated choices for themselves. It relies on the student’s ability to reach a conclusion instead of someone else telling them the conclusion they should reach. Heavy reliance on both problem-solving skills and communication skills is common in critical thinking.

Critical thinking is often considered to be a cornerstone of what is called meaningful learning. Meaningful learning is what happens when factual information and cognitive abilities are combined. This could mean that a student combines knowledge that they have learned with their critical thinking abilities and is able to come to a conclusion that will determine how they act.

Critical thinking is the skillset that you use when you watch or listen to the news. You see, read, or hear information about the world but then rely on your critical thinking skills to process the data and come to a valuable and functional conclusion. By practicing critical thinking, students are better able to process information that is being brought in by the senses.

In order to practice critical thinking, your brain must be in good working order. Critical thinking requires a lot of mental energy and skills and can take a lot of time to develop the capacity to utilize critical thinking to its highest capability. Critical thinking is often integrated into various lessons throughout schooling to help improve the brain’s elasticity and decision-making skills.

As we said, with rote learning, this article will primarily focus on critical thinking through an academic lens, but there are other critical thinking applications. Critical thinking is integral to the world around us. From deciding in a meeting to answering the question of “what would you like for dinner,” it is vital that we can quickly think about all the factors and come to one concise and well-thought-through decision. This is an essential life skill.

How Do Rote and Critical Thinking Differ From Each Other?

Rote learning and critical thinking are about as diametrically opposed learning styles as there can be, while both still essential to your overall brain development and knowledge acquisition. While rote learning is more about repeating to memorize details, which is something you could do without really processing what you are memorizing, critical thinking involves lots of active thought.

Both rote learning and critical thinking help your brain develop different essential abilities. Rote learning helps your brain improve its ability to remember details and retain information for extended periods of time. Critical thinking helps your brain form connections between information and draw conclusions based on that information.

Though the differences between rote learning and critical thinking are numerous, they can work together. The two styles feed off of one another. It is worth noting that in order to make a significant decision, you must have all of the information and facts necessary to make the decision, some of which you probably learned through rote learning. Once you have that information, you will need your critical thinking skills to be able to process the information and come to your ultimate conclusion.

Although both can be used in lots of different subjects in school, some subjects tend to be more aligned with one than the other. For example, rote learning is more associated with basic math, acting, and history. On the other hand, critical thinking is more related to literary analysis, science, and higher-level mathematical research. All that being said, both rote learning and critical thinking are used in almost every subject and at nearly every grade level since they are so intertwined with learning in general.

How Do Students Benefit from Learning Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is a way of interpreting the world around you and thinking critically about every piece of information you use to conclude. Learning critical thinking is immensely useful to a student’s future success. So much so that it is a metric that is often measured to gauge how successful a country’s education system is.

Developing good critical thinking skills at a young age will allow students to tackle more considerable life challenges later. For example, if a young adult has to choose between two different job offers, they will need to think critically about the facts they have and what they know about themselves to make the best decision. This type of decision-making is based heavily on critical thinking.

Learning how to develop critical thinking skills can be challenging, but it is something that is built into our education system from a young age. Introducing young students to small exercises that ask them to make choices based on information is a great way to start developing their critical thinking skills.

Critical thinking is a broad term that defines a comprehensive skill set. In order to be able to practice critical thinking effectively, you must also have a variety of other skills that will help provide you with the information necessary for critical thinking. Skills like rote learning can help your brain start building the scaffolding that it needs to develop critical thinking skills later on.

How Can Rote Learning Be Useful?

It can be easy to bash rote learning as just simple memorization, but it can have a lot of advantages. One of the main benefits of rote learning is that it can help your brain improve its memory. Your brain is a muscle, and just like every other muscle in your body, it needs to be worked out.

Memory is an essential function of the brain that slowly develops throughout your education. Practicing memorization can help your brain improve its ability to process and remember information. Utilizing rote learning with purpose has even been shown to help your brain retain information for much longer than it would have otherwise, but only after lots of practice.

Regardless of if you are learning lyrics to a song or memorizing your multiplication tables, rote memorization plays a massive role in lots of learning. It is an integral part of learning. Throughout your education, there are plenty of specific instances when you have most likely been required to learn something very specific.

Rote learning is an essential tool for young children. Early childhood brain development is key to future brain development, and many of the early milestones that children must reach are based on rote learning. Repetition of sounds over and over will help a child learn to form words and begin to understand language. Rote learning is a skill that young children rely heavily upon as they develop.

Wrapping Things Up: Rote Learning vs. Critical Thinking

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Regardless of how you feel about rote learning or critical thinking, it is hard to deny that both are necessary for different situations. Rote learning has been used for ages as a tool to help students memorize information and has been shown even to help your brain develop. Critical thinking is essential to your brain development and your ability to make a decision based on facts. Both rote learning and critical thinking work together to help you make every choice in life.

Understanding the differences between the two is key to using both rote learning and critical thinking to their greatest extent. Hopefully, this article has cleared up any confusion you might have had surrounding either rote learning or critical thinking and shown you why both are essential tools in your learning.

Professor Conquer

Professor Conquer started Conquer Your Exam in 2018 to help students feel more confident and better prepared for their tough tests. Prof excelled in high school, graduating top of his class and receiving admissions into several Ivy League and top 15 schools. He has helped many students through the years tutoring and mentoring K-12, consulting seniors through the college admissions process, and writing extensive how-to guides for school.

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Terms & More

Rote Learning: Definition, Examples, Pros, Cons

Dave Cornell (PhD)

Dr. Cornell has worked in education for more than 20 years. His work has involved designing teacher certification for Trinity College in London and in-service training for state governments in the United States. He has trained kindergarten teachers in 8 countries and helped businessmen and women open baby centers and kindergartens in 3 countries.

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Chris Drew (PhD)

This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU.

Rote learning refers to a type of learning where students memorize subject content. It is usually accomplished through repetition and often involves the memorization of dates and facts.

Rote learning is frequently used in younger age groups because they need to form a solid foundation of knowledge.

For example, kindergarten-age children learn how to count through practice. Similarly, learning how to read requires the memorization of sounds that match specific letters.

For older age groups, rote memory is regularly used to teach students how to solve mathematical and chemical equations.

Once foundational knowledge has been established, students can engage in critical thinking and analysis, which are higher-order cognitive processes.

Rote Learning Definition

Here are two quick scholarly definitions:

“Rote learning occurs when the learner memorizes new information without relating it to prior knowledge and involves no effort to integrate new knowledge with existing concepts, experience, or objects. (Repko, 2008)
“To learn by rote is to learn by means of repetition, i.e. by going over the same beaten track or route again and again. Rote is really the same word as route.” (Cobham Brewer, 2001) Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

Rote Learning Vs. Meaningful Learning

Rote learning is fundamentally a memorization technique. It requires the learner to repeat facts and procedures until they are thoroughly memorized.
Meaningful learning refers to a focus on understanding rather than just memorizing. It requires connecting new information to prior knowledge through experiential learning scenarios. It is argued that this leaders to deeper understanding and more long-lasting learning.

Meaningful learning refers to the ability to understand how those memorized concepts are connected and relate to one another. This represents an advanced level of learning and as such requires higher-order cognitive processing.

Although rote learning and meaningful learning are usually discussed as distinct categories, Grove and Bertz (2011) explain that:

“Rote and meaningful learning, rather, are endpoints along a continuum of learning.” (Grove & Bertz, 2011, p. 201)

The rote vs. meaningful learning dichotomy has been around for several decades.

Novak (1977) was among the first to identify this misconception by stating:

“…Except perhaps in a newborn infant, absolute rote learning probably never occurs. [. . .] It is very important to recognize that rote – meaningful is a continuum and not a dichotomy .” (Novak, 1977, p. 80)

By conducting a qualitative analysis of several organic chemistry students, Grove and Bertz discovered that learning could be enhanced by helping students identify

“…intermediate positions on the continuum connecting meaningful learning and rote learning” (p. 207).

They suggest that “it is essential that professors make every effort to highlight the vital role that organic chemistry plays in connecting the sciences.” (Grove & Bertz, 2011, p. 201).

This approach can help fill the gap between the false dichotomy of rote and meaningful learning.

Rote Learning Advantages and Disadvantages

Rote learning has been heavily criticized since the rise of constructivism in education in the second half of the 20 th Century.

The key criticism is that it tends to be a passive form of learning under the behaviorism model of education. Under this model, students aren’t encouraged to learn through experiences or by connecting, comparing, and contrasting new information with their prior knowledge . Rather, they learn primarily through repetition .

Here is the contrast:

Constructivism’s Argument : We tend to remember things more effectively when making connections to prior knowledge, contextualizing knowledge, and exploring concepts through storytelling and experience. For example: you will be able to recount events better if you actually were there rather than if you’re just retelling someone else’s story. (This approach tends to be associated with active learning ).
Behaviorism’s Argument : We learn through repetition. Give the student the information they need to know, then get them to repeat it over and over again, often over a spaced period of time (see: spaced repetition), accompanied by rewards and punishments. (This approach tends to be associated with passive learning ).

Generally, contemporary education theorists believe that the constructivist perspective – what we might call contextualized learning – is far more effective than behaviorism.

Key Strengths

1. is good for developing foundational knowledge.

It is quite difficult for students to exercise higher-order cognitive processes without a solid foundation of facts and concepts.

The understanding of basic definitions is the first step to advanced application that is needed for most areas of academic study.

Therefore, rote learning serves an invaluable place in educational endeavors. It lays the foundation of knowledge that can then be utilized at other levels such as analysis, synthesis, application and innovation.

2. Could be an Essential Step to Mastery

In addition to cognitive activities, rote learning also plays a key role in the development of physical skills. This includes sports and learning how to play any musical instrument.

The physical coordination that is required to excel in these domains cannot be mastered without repetition. In fact, the degree of rehearsal of specific movements and sequence of actions is directly related to performance.

Those that master these skills will invariably point to the number of hours spent practicing (i.e., rote learning). Those not willing to put in the time simply fail to succeed.

Key Weaknesses

1. shallow learning.

Almost by definition, rote learning represents a very shallow level of understanding. The memorization of facts and definitions in no way implies that the individual has a mastery of comprehension.

Rote learning does not involve higher-order cognitive processing needed for critical analysis , synthesis or innovation. Moreover, testing students’ memorization of facts and definitions really tells us nothing about if they truly understand the concepts being assessed, or if they are just repeating a sequence of words they have been told go together.

2. Dull Learning

Repetition in and of itself is unstimulating. When students are studying an academic subject or attempting to learn how to play a musical instrument, repetition is their least favorite aspect of learning.

Many students will simply lose interest and motivation to continue study or rehearsal. Their goals often include visions of accomplishment that are far-removed from the daily grind that is required to reach those heights.

This is often what separates those who become masters and those who fall by the wayside and ultimately pursue other interests.

Table Comparison

Below are some additional advantages and weaknesses of rote learning:


Rote learning can be effective for memorizing factual information. It may have its place for memorizing dates, formulas, and vocabulary words that are hard to remember in any other way.	Often, students memorize information without truly understanding it, leading to poor long-term memory and inability to use the information in a new context.
Sometimes, we just need to memorize things such as our times tables. Once we have them in memory, we can do more complex math tasks by quickly recalling the base knowledge necessary.	Rote learning can be tedious. It tends to be very boring because it’s literally trying the same thing over and over again.
Rote learning tends to be quick and efficient. You simply get told the facts, and then are asked to repeat them. There is no worrying about context or background knowledge.	: Rote learning does not encourage students to critique and analyze information. It simply requires “ ” in the mind.
: Unfortunately, standardized tests tend to ask students to repeat information in a decontextualize way. Rote learning can be very helpful for preparing for these sorts of tests.	People who learn things by rote tend to find it hard to apply the knowledge and facts to new contexts.
Rote learning – for example, through memorizing a presentation you need to give – can give you great confidence leading up to a test or presentation.	Rote learning may result in short-term memorization but it is still questionable as to whether the information will effectively be retained in the long term.

Rote Learning Examples

Mrs. Williams is preparing her grade one students for the school’s annual Christmas Show. They have been rehearsing the song they will sing for weeks.
Mr. Yamamoto starts every chemistry class by asking his students to collectively recite the chemical equations from yesterday’s class.
Janelle has a stack of index cards with the names and dates of historical figures and events that she studies every night before going to bed.
Students in Maria’s anatomy class have to name all the bones in the human skeletal structure if they want to pass the cumulative final exam.
Sam has been repeating over and over again all 17 of his passwords so that he can commit them to memory and doesn’t need to set his computer to hold each one in storage.
Joon is memorizing his parent’s phone number instead of saving it in his phone in case he loses his phone one day and needs to call home.
Kumar wants to make sure his son will do well on his next geography test so every night he gives him a blank map to fill in.
Mrs. Rodriguez makes each of her kindergarten students repeat every morning the phone numbers for emergency services such as the police, fire department, and ambulance.
Each night, Javier memorizes another column of the Periodic Table.
The coach insists that his players run the drills until they can perform each one without thinking.

Case Studies and Research Basis

1. kwan and mafe (2016) – rote learning in medical school.

Is there a profession with more challenging training than medical school? Well-known for its rigor and demand, future physicians must master the knowledge and operating principles of one of nature’s most complex creations: the human body.

Medical schools are some of the best practitioners of effective educational strategies.

Case in point: the best medical schools in the world implement a problem-based approach that requires students to work in teams, diagnose, and develop treatment regimens for actual clinical cases.

With such high-level cognitive demands, you would think there is little value in rote learning.

However, use the example of the physical examination to illustrate the importance of rote memory:

“Learning the physical examination is much the same as learning scales on a musical instrument where muscle memory needs to be trained and in place before more complex melodies can be performed.” (Kwan & Mafe, 2016, p. 430)

Although rote memory is often considered shallow learning, it plays a valuable role in one of life’s most demanding professions.

2. Brett et al. (2020) – Gamification Of Rote Learning

Rote learning is necessary for the mastery of physical coordination found in sports or learning to play a musical instrument. Both of these pursuits require repetitive movements to build muscle memory.

Unfortunately, these aspects are least appealing to most people.

Brett et al. (2020) suggest that gamification offers a solution. Gamification involves incorporating game elements into a repetitive task, such as learning to type or play a musical instrument.

The describe several games that try:

“…to teach users how to play an instrument draw upon the professional side with detailed lessons and exercises, whilst also utilising elements of gamification …to enrich the educational experience and motivate users to keep learning and practicing” (p. 724).

The authors utilize Chou’s Octalysis to identify aspects of gamification that are applicable to behavioral objectives .

For example, meaning . This involves adding a narrative to the play that users find interesting, which then increases motivation to continue playing.

Another element is accomplishment . Players can progress through stages as their skills improve. This element adds a much-needed feeling of accomplishment that can be missing in traditional rote-learning activities.

Gamification offers a potentially effective approach to increasing both motivation and enjoyment of rote learning.

3. Roche et al. (2009) – Rote Learning And The Aging Brain

Getting older means losing various physical and cognitive abilities that most people take for granted during their younger years. Memory problems are one of the main complaints the elderly express to their doctor (Levy-Cushman & Abeles, 1998).

As Roche et al. (2009) explain:

“The normal decline in memory performance that accompanies old age is thought to be related to cell loss in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, two crucial areas for memory encoding and recall.” (Small, 2001, p. 2)

In an attempt to combat cognitive decline, Roche et al. (2009) had 24 participants, ages 55-70, engage in six weeks of a rote learning training regime.

Participants were then administered various memory tests and had the metabolic profile of their hippocampus measured.

The results “found that this training regime did produce an enhancement in memory function” (p. 11).

In addition, “A delayed memory enhancement was found…six weeks after the end of their weekly rote learning regimen” (p. 12).

Even more interesting, “these benefits appear to be associated with metabolic changes in the left posterior hippocampus” (p. 15).

Rote learning is the repetition of learning material in order for it to be committed to long-term memory. The process is quite simple: repeat the material, over and over again.

It does not require any advanced cognitive skills such as understanding how concepts are connected or engaging in critical analysis.

Because it is so repetitive, it represents an impediment to beginners continuing their pursuit. Students simply get bored and lose interest.

Some strategies can help students maintain interest. For instance, integrating gamification elements in a subject can make the experience of learning more dynamic and compelling.

Research suggests that helping students understand the relevancy of a subject can improve motivation as well. This can involve teachers highlighting the practical applications of the subject domain or its value to other disciplines.

Brett, J., Gladwell, T., Xu, N., Amelidis, P., Davis, T., & Gatzidis, C. (2020, August). Developing games for the purposes of rote learning for keyboard and piano. In 2020 IEEE Conference on Games (CoG) (pp. 724-727). IEEE.

Grove, N. P., & Bretz, S. L. (2012). A continuum of learning: from rote memorization to meaningful learning in organic chemistry. Chemistry Education Research and Practice , 13 (3), 201-208. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1039/C1RP90069B

Kwan, R., & Mafe, C. (2016). Rote learning: A necessary evil. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 7 , 429-432. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S115838

Levy-Cushman, J., & Abeles, N. (1998). Memory complaints in the able elderly. Clinical Gerontology, 19 , 3-24.

Novak, J. (1977). A theory of education . Cornell University: Ithaca, NY.

Pasquier, F. (1999). Early diagnosis of dementia: Neuropsychology. Journal of Neurology, 246 , 6-15. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004150050299

Roche, R. A., Mullally, S. L., McNulty, J. P., Hayden, J., Brennan, P., Doherty, C. P., … & O’Mara, S. M. (2009). Prolonged rote learning produces delayed memory facilitation and metabolic changes in the hippocampus of the ageing human brain. BMC Neuroscience , 10 , 1-17. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2202-10-136

Small, S.A. (2001). Age-related memory decline. Archives in Neurology, 58 , 360-364.

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