Embracing AI in Education: Why Memorization and Testing Are Outdated

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, one of the biggest challenges we face is the ineffective integration of AI into learning. While advanced technologies could transform how students learn, many educational institutions still cling to outdated methods like quizzes and tests based on memorization an effective model pre-21st century. This not only limits students’ potential but also overlooks the immense benefits AI can bring.

Take my own family, for example: my 72-year-old mother who can read a novel every three days struggles to access basic emails or Wikipedia, while my 8-year-old navigates these technologies effortlessly while unable to read an entire book. It makes you wonder—who is really “dumb”? Or is it the lens through which we view intelligence and learning that is grossly antiquated? Memorizing facts may have been valid in the 20th century and before, but it certainly isn’t useful today when all the information we need is at our fingertips. Keep in mind the writer of this dissent was born in 1977, the dawn of the computer era and beyond contestation the first digital native in human history.

As The Atlantic‘s article; “The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books” highlights, even elite college students struggle with traditional forms of learning, which begs the question: Why are we not fully utilizing AI to foster deeper understanding and creativity in our classrooms? Instead of banning AI tools, we should embrace them and make their effective use a core part of the curriculum. The focus should shift from rote memorization to critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world application, preparing students for a future where knowledge is less about retention and more about utilization.