“Reading papers and memorizing them doesn’t make you a good researcher.” — Tasuku Honjo.
Many of us have seen scenarios where a supposed expert says all the right things, uses all the fancy buzz words, and walks through a flashy presentation deck. Then someone asks a seemingly simple question, which the expert struggles to answer. This is a classic example of being able to repeat the information, with no real understanding of what it means or its application. Unfortunately, this is all too common of an issue.
Learning is a complex beast to tackle where individuals thrive with different approaches. Understanding and application of knowledge is equally as complex. Memorization can be a component of learning, but it is not sufficient for deep understanding or the ability to apply knowledge in new situations1. This means that memorization might get you a top score on that exam, but statistically will result in the loss of that knowledge with no understanding of how to apply it2. Obviously, this is neither ideal nor useful. The ability to explain and make connections is a better long-term lesson than pure memorization, this is especially true when you enter the real world (i.e. the workforce)3.
Memorization is required for forming a base of knowledge, but shouldn’t be the long term focus. Critical thinking is the proven path to take what you know and apply it to practical scenarios. In a quickly changing world, it is essential to be able to adapt. Examine what you know and work to make connections with your daily situations. What enhancements can you make to your work processes? What can you improve while at home? Ask yourself these “what” questions and continue to grow.
Action: Focus on applying your knowledge to solve problems and make new improvements.
Further Reading:
- Memorization is not Enough: Why Critical Thinking is Key in Science
- A Comparative Study On the Impact of Critical Thinking and Rote Memorization
- From college to clinic: reasoning over memorization is key for understanding anatomy
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