Schools are Focusing on the Wrong Type of Memory (and the Benefits of Procedural Learning)

Have you ever crammed for a test, aced a test, and then… completely forgot everything you learned only a week later? Same here. This is because school and learning is typically focused on declarative memory – stuff like facts and theories. However, what if I told you there is a better, more fun way to learn? The solution is learning focused on procedural memory. 

What are Declarative and Procedural Memories?

All of our memories can be broken up into two main groups – declarative and procedural. Declarative memories are memories that can be easily expressed verbally and are based on knowing what things are. Remembering what you ate for breakfast, recalling the Pythagorean Theorem, or knowing what a touchdown means in football. 

Procedural memories, on the other hand, are about knowing how to do things with little to no thought requirements. Some examples of these are brushing your teeth, riding a bike,

and solving math equations without any effort. 

Why Schools Focus on Declarative Memories

Schools prefer declarative memory based learning because it is much easier to test. Fill-in-the-blanks, multiple-choice, true-or-false, and even essay questions all test a student’s declarative memory. The problem? Students often don’t understand the material. You can remember all of the ingredients of a dish, but that doesn’t mean you can cook it. Even worse, unused information fades away. This is why so many students forget information right after a test – the use of the material was for the student to get a good grade. So why is procedural memory better?

The Benefits of Procedural Learning

There are a lot of advantages to focusing on procedural memories when learning. It stores in our brains better, it’s easier to recall, it’s practical, and it produces creativity.

When you’re focused on procedural memory, you’re not just memorizing – you’re doing. You’re solving problems, practicing skills, and applying knowledge in new ways. The cherry on top: procedural memory is harder to forget and easier to recall. 

I experience this first hand as I am learning how to draw. I could know all of the art theory out there, but unless I put pen to paper, I would never improve as an artist. The same is true for math, learning a new language, or any other subject out there. We have to do things to really know something.

How to Switch from Declarative to Procedural Learning

Making the switch doesn’t have to be hard. For starters, simply ask yourself, “How can I get my hands dirty?” Learning by doing will mean that you are forming procedural memories. Here are some additional tips that will help make the switch to procedural learning easier:

• Focus on projects. Start small and simple, increasing complexity as you grow.

• Practice the basics often. Practicing the things you already know on a consistent basis will not only make you remember them better, but you will also have a better understanding of them. Every day before I dive into drawing, I do a warmup, which consists of previously done drawing exercises.

• Teach someone else. Teaching someone else is one of the best ways to test yourself on material. 

• Seek immediate feedback. Feedback can come from a mentor, a community, or even yourself. When you give yourself feedback it’s important to treat yourself nicely, and with respect. It’s easy to get too harsh on ourselves. We have to constantly remind ourselves that the act of showing up to better ourselves is a success.

• Explore new methods. Have fun and try to make new things with the information you learned. Think of your memories as LEGO blocks that can be combined in unique ways to make cool things. New foods aren’t created by following a recipe.

  
  

So the next time you’re cramming for a test, remember that real learning isn’t about reciting facts, but it’s about what you can do. Instead, shift your focus to procedural learning and reap the benefits such as passing tests without needing to cram, and being able to apply your knowledge in the real world.

If you found this helpful or would like to know more, leave a comment or reach out to me.

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