The aim of education should be teaching students how to think, rather than what to think. But more than that, to create the “spark” – the curiosity, the passion, for further knowledge that helps them grow as martial artists.
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The task of instructors is not just to educate students to perform techniques, drills, kata, sparring etc. in a rote form, but to help them acquire a deep understanding of their art. Rote learning trains an individual to solve problems with a single answer (this technique does this), as opposed to meaningful thinking, which allows the practitioner to solve problems and reach different solutions. Looking beyond the technique alone.
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Learning is often taken to mean learning by rote and students are taught what their system says they need to know…… their syllabus, enabling them to pass the next grade to mean they are competent, rather than any deeper understanding.
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Memorization is not always learning, and learning by rote is not the answer to understanding. It makes people followers, not leaders. Because rote learning is the drilling of specific information, practitioners exposed to this type of learning are used to following instructions without having the freedom to think for themselves.
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It is the lazy person’s answer to teaching and learning. The teacher will inform the students of the answer to a particular problem or scenario, without really explaining how the answer was reached, or encouraging the students to find the answer for themselves.
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Those students will accept the teacher’s version of the answer without questioning the method. And if presented with the same question in a different manner, they will not be able to solve it….. and their techniques alone will fail.
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Let me clarify, rote learning and meaningful learning are two sides of the same coin. There are some instances when rote learning is the only way to learn. The solo representation of a kata for example, or because of the nature of the topic taught.
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However, it is very important to recognize that rote learning is not the most effective way to learn most things. Meaningful learning, where the learner is taught to question, analyze, and arrive at a solution from a different angle, is how true learning and understanding takes place.
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Students must reach the point where they can nod their head and say; “Ah, yes, now I understand!” 
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“Education means inspiring someone’s mind, not just filling their head.” – Katie Lusk