I am an advocate for repetition based learning. This is contrary to the theoretical, “understanding”-focused methods that are popular in the Western mindset. (I am told that Asian countries focus on repetition.. although that is changing in recent years)

First, ability is practical, and it can only be acquired through experience and repetition. One doesn’t need to know why something works in order to use it. The bottom line is that you can deliver the goods.

The argument is that ability doesn’t constitute understanding. Collectively we’ve all become “philomaths”; we’re bombarded by information; we want to know, know, know, no matter how irrelevant. What good is it if you don’t know why, an average eighth grader can tell you–without knowing, of course, why one needs know why. It’s reinforced in the media–Asian test preps turn students into robots. The love of knowledge extends further. From grade school years students are encouraged to follow current events. You need to know the happenings of the world, lassie!

I think the idea is understanding will aid performance. I have no objection to this notion, but I also think performance will aid understanding. My position is that ability will open the door to the wherefores, and it is more efficient to focus on the former first. I have only heuristic, empirical support for this. Often we will master an obstacle, and only later down the road will we look back with an a-ha moment. “So that’s how that works!”

But I guess no one cares about competence or efficiency.

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One major problem in learning is who and what we learn from. We want to be humble and willing to learn with an open mind, but that doesn’t mean we should be stupid and follow the blind.

I won’t elaborate too much, but this has applications in everything. Follow the best, people with experience and qualification who have been there and are likely to have a bird’s eye view.