Be Aware of Rote Learning | Class X Students

Rote Learning is one of the memorization technique wherein the study material is repeated again and again to recall effectively. It is a just mere repetition of the topics. For instance:

• Remembering a phone number
• The Line of a drama
• Phonetics
• Mathematical Tables
• Alphabets
• Periodic Table
• Nomenclature in Biology
• Formulae, and, etc.

Rote Learning brings Mastery over fundamental or basic knowledge of the subject. Repeating the learning helps you to recall the subject material as it is presented. It is also called as Ratta Maro or Cramming colloquially.

It has its advantages and disadvantages. To mention a few, they include:

Advantages of Rote Learning:

• Good tool for memorizing
• Recall the basic facts
• Develop basic/foundational knowledge
• Short-term benefits
• Useful to study basic maths and science

Disadvantages of Rote Learning:

• It’s repetitive by forming a loop of remembering and forget
• You may lose focus easily for want of deeper understanding
• Does not build the much wanted social skills
• The absence of a link between the previous and new knowledge
• May lead to the wrong impression of subject knowledge

Therefore, apart from learning the basic facts, class X students are recommended to use another method of learning, i.e., Meaningful or Conceptual learning to score well in the SSC Board Exams 2019 and also in all the future exams.

Let’s move forward and understand Meaningful Learning.

Meaningful / Conceptual Learning:

Meaningful learning refers to the learning method wherein it involves the learning the concept of the subject or topic. Thus, the gained knowledge helps to relate it to the learned aspects, apply it to new learning situations.

For instance:

• Derivation of a formulae
• Solving a maths/physics problem
• Evaluate, analyze, or compare
• Mechanisms involved in a topic

Meaningful learning brings mastery over the concept/theme of the subject. It is active and long-lasting as it engages the students’ attention 100%. Higher level thinking skills, which is a continuous process is honed through meaningful learning alone.

It has its advantages and disadvantages. To mention a few, they include:

Advantages of Meaningful Learning:

• Our brain works for associated learning and memory forms a chain structure
• Relate the knowledge to previous learnings and apply in future
• Clarifies doubts, facts, and strengthens the learning process
• Encourage active learning and focuses on the outcome
• Stretch an idea for new connections and application

Disadvantages of Meaningful Learning:

• It takes a long time but is fruitful
• Must be tailored to individual learners

Still, meaningful learning is the most recommended learning technique. The experts emphasize the significance of more profound understanding than a mere recall of the facts. It teaches the students to develop their cognitive skills that are used throughout their life.

It effectively engages the students through increasing their ability to evaluate, reason, analyze, compare, remember, and recall efficiently.

How to Ensure Meaningful Learning | Class X Students

• So, by now, you have understood the significance of meaningful learning and the limited use of rote learning. Here are a few suggestions to ensure meaningful learning for class X students preparing for the SSC Board Exam 2019.

• Ensure what you learn is in the proximal zone. The proximal zone of development refers to learning ability to perform a task-independent or with guidance. You learning must be in such a way that you will be able to perform a task independently.

• Highlight on the applications of your learning. Know more illustrations and practical applications of your learning.

• Understand the proper and logical reason for the topic you have learned. Keep off the doubts with the help of your teacher then and there itself. Do not carry the doubts.

• Make a study partner and check your recalling ability and thus avoid cramming of the sessions.

• Jot down the points to remember in your own words than to merely copying your notes or text points as it is without understanding.

• Prepare a flowchart or diagram by yourself illustrating a specific topic with the concept.

• Pick a single topic for a schedule and excel through it. Do not rush through multiple topics in a given time.

• Attend online test series, take practice tests, and mock tests at regular intervals to acknowledge your learnings by analyzing the scores after the test period.

Conclusion:

It doesn’t mean that rote learning is a total waste. But you should limit this method of learning for many good reasons as explained. It should be restricted to select topics and levels. And, that’s it.

Adopt meaningful learning as your best strategy to score well in the board exams and all exams in general.

Master the Art of Meaningful Learning with the Ezeetest App.

How Ezeetest App helps you to engage in Meaningful Learning?

Attending online test series, practice tests, or the mock tests once you finish learning a particular topic helps you to evaluate your learning.

Answering the twisted questions, sincere efforts in solving the problems, eliminating the wrong answers in MCQs, filling the blanks by recalling, and, etc., train your brain to understand the underlying fundamentals to answer a question, reproduce a concept, or derive a solution for the given problem.

Grab this opportunity to train your brain in meaningful learning by attempting tests repeatedly and regularly.

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