Memorization versus Understanding
Memory is a fundamental tool in the learning process. We are taught from a young age to develop our memorization skills. However, there is a significant difference between memorizing something and learning it. True learning does not occur until we are able to understand information then apply what we believed we have learned to a new situation or experience.
The following chart outlines the major differences between memorizing and understanding.
MEMORIZING | UNDERSTANDING |
- Limits learning of ideas and concepts to word for word recall.
| - Converts ideas and concepts into own words.
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- Limits ability to generate insight or creative ideas.
| - Creates a basis for generating insights and creative syntheses.
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- Limits learning to actual words recalled.
| - Advances the depth of learning.
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- Inability to deduce or induce.
| - Develops insights that come from deduction or induction.
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- Has trouble seeing beyond the basic concept or idea.
| - Can see meaning, effects, results, consequences beyond the basic idea or concept.
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- Difficult to explain ideas to someone else other than word for word.
| - Able to use own words to explain something clearly to someone else.
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- Difficult to see how ideas apply in real-life situations.
| - Can apply ideas to real life situations.
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- Relevance of ideas outside the classroom is difficult to see.
| - Ability to seek connections between knowledge learned in classroom and the outside world.
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- Does not see differences, similarities, and implications of ideas.
| - Can identify differences, similarities between ideas and implications of these ideas.
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- Interprets ideas literally.
| - Realizes that there can be figurative as well as literal interpretations of ideas.
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- Strives for rote learning and has trouble solving problems when numbers or components are changed.
| - Strives for understand and can solve problems even when numbers or components are changed.
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- Believes there is one right answer to every question.
| - Accepts that there may be more than 1 “right” answer to a question depending on circumstances.
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Copyright © Dennis H. Congos, Certified Supplemental Instruction Trainer. University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816 – 407-823-3789