rote learning

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Categories: Site glossary

a term used by Ausubel to refer to learning that does not relate new material meaningfully with existing knowledge and understanding

often contrasted with meaningful learning

"rote learning is very limited. Learning 'word-perfectly' that the square of the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides, or that when a body A exerts a force on a body B, then the body B exerts a force, equal in magnitude, opposite in direction, and along the same line of action, on body A, is generally considered to be of little value if the ideas represented in the form of words can not be applied, because they have been learnt without understanding" (Taber, 2011, p.42).

[Please be aware that a word may have different nuances, or even a different meaning, according to context.]« Back to Index

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.