What's Up, Doc? We're Moving Past Rote Learning

By Randall Freeman, PhD

"1066, Battle of Hastings."

"Huh? Dad, what are you talking about?"

"The only date I remember from school. I was forced to memorize dates, events, capitals, and that stuff when I was a kid in school. The Battle of Hastings was in 1066. I don’t remember what the Battle of Hastings was, though."

My father was an interesting character. My family claims that I get my sense of humor from him. I don’t see it; mine is so much more sophisticated than his ever was.

In his own way, my father had a point about teaching and learning. He graduated high school in 1942, in the midst of World War II. Education has changed slightly since 1942.

In 1956, Dr. Benjamin Bloom published what has come to be known as Bloom’s Taxonomy. Every teaching student has been immersed in the levels of effective teaching as researched by Dr. Bloom. The highest level of effective teaching/learning is EVALUATION -- judging the value of material. The lowest level of effective teaching/learning is KNOWLEDGE -- remembering previously learned material (also referred to as "rote" learning.)

Between EVALUATION and KNOWLEDGE, in descending order of effectiveness, are SYNTHESIS, ANALYSIS, APPLICATION, and COMPREHENSION.

Building on Dr. Bloom’s work, in the late 1990’s, Dr. Norman L. Web developed the Design of Knowledge Model. Webb identified four distinct depth of knowledge levels. Level 1 includes basic recall of facts, concepts, information, or procedures. Level 2 includes skills and concepts such as the use of information (graphs) and requires two or more steps with decision points along the way. Level 3 includes strategic thinking that requires reasoning and is abstract and complex. Level 4 includes extended thinking such as an investigation or application to real work.

Students will learn and retain more when teaching and learning go (way) beyond the simple memorization of facts, which are constantly changing anyway. The same question asked of my dad, "Who is the President of the United States?" had a different correct answer than for me. (Dad, FDR, me, Richard Nixon.) Both of us would be wrong today is we answered the question as we learned it.

For right or wrong, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are an attempt to lead students and teachers to the higher levels of effective teaching/learning and away from the proven failure of rote learning. Students must be able to relate their learning to their future careers and adult lives. When learning is relevant to students, greater learning and retention of learning will be the result.

As you face the rigors of public school today versus when you were a child, consider this: Would you insist on a surgeon operating on a loved one using the resources and skills of your childhood, knowing what resources and skills are available today?

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his lovely wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the proud parents of four beautiful daughters: Daniela, 18, and 14-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Other family members include dogs Scruffy, Mikko, & Max, 17-year-old cat Hunter, and turtle Tuttles. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. Randy has wisely decided to delete the bit about being Karen's boss in order to continue living in his happy home. His column will appear here every other Tuesday.