Editing Rote learning (section)

== In computer science ==
{{See also|Memoization}}
Rote learning is also used to describe a simple learning pattern used in [[machine learning]], although it does not involve repetition, unlike the usual meaning of rote learning. The machine is programmed to keep a history of calculations and compare new input against its history of inputs and outputs, retrieving the stored output if present. This pattern requires that the machine can be modeled as a [[pure function]] — always producing same output for same input — and can be formally described as follows:

:f(<math>\ x_1 , x_2 , . . ., x_n</math>) → (<math>\ y_1 , y_2 , . . ., y_p</math>)  → store ((<math>\ x_1 , x_2 , . . ., x_n</math>),(<math>\ y_1 , y_2, . . . , y_p</math>))<ref>{{cite conference|author=Ming Xue; Changjun Zhu|title=A Study and Application on Machine Learning of Artificial Intelligence|conference=Artificial Intelligence, 2009. JCAI '09. International Joint Conference on|pages=272–274|date=25 April 2009|doi=10.1109/JCAI.2009.55}}</ref>

Rote learning was used by [[Arthur Samuel (computer scientist)|Samuel]]'s Checkers on an [[IBM 701]], a milestone in the use of [[artificial intelligence]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cs.cf.ac.uk/Dave/AI2/node133.html|title=Rote Learning}}</ref>
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== Reasons for rote learning ==
{{Original research|date=May 2008}}
{{POV-section|date=May 2008}}
{{Tone|date=May 2008}}
Though rote learning is usually not necessary, there are many reasons why people resort to it. Bad teachers is one of the key reasons. Some teachers do not know the subject themselves and hence are unable to explain the essence to their students. This is a major problem that plagues higher education, especially in India where the teachers at colleges are usually poorly trained. Many teachers also criticize innovative methods of problem solving thus discouraging the student, who eventually resorts to rote learning to please the teacher.

Some teachers are forced to ask their students to memorize because the board, which conducts the final examination, expects a particular answer. If this answer is not given then the student may lose marks. Another factor that makes many teachers encourage learning by the rote is that these external examinations may be corrected by people who themselves have little knowledge about the subject and may penalise the student for not writing the exact answer as is mentioned in the answer key. Again this problem is very prevalent in countries like India where the number of students writing the examination is very high, making it virtually impossible to standardise the correction process.

Many times, especially in countries where education standards cannot be enforced easily, the question papers are set in a way that encourages learning by rote. The students who try to understand the subject are considered to be wasting time because the paper can be cracked on the basis of rote knowledge only. This encourages otherwise diligent and intelligent students to resort to rote learning, even though they may be capable of understanding the subject.

In addition, rote learning is also exercised by many Muslims to learn the Koran by heart in Arabic. Since the language is foreign to many Muslims who learn the holy book, often the focus is on memorising rather than understanding - especially since many learners are of a very young age.

A second explanation is that rote is the teaching, the incorporation of material into one's consciousness by repetition, by patterning, as it were. Rote is the teaching of abstract concepts by reference in a context rather than explanation, and the teaching of concrete information by practice.

Cultures which practice rote usually also have practices of harsh consequences to unsuccessful learning, and by proxy, such harshness has garnered rote a bad reputation.

Rote learning is active teaching and active learning (versus passive computer based/education-aid based teaching and learning, which has now been shown to pejorate education).  Both the teacher and the student must participate in the drill, whether by writing or by speaking, and so the brain power required to meet the processing on a multitude of levels makes for a better educated teacher and pupil.-->