Sir, – Further to Prof William Reville's article "Beware of faddish teaching methods that scorn rote learning" and subsequent responses to it on this page (September 19th, 22nd), I would respectfully suggest that this discussion has taken on the form of a false dichotomy with regard to which teaching and learning approach is "best" – ie active versus passive, explicit-instruction teaching versus inquiry-based learning.
The answer is both. Both approaches find support in the scientific literature. Both approaches are required to develop an “understanding of fundamental concepts”. Both approaches should be within the repertoire of teachers, who can decide to opt for one over the other based on the particular topic being taught and the specific skills being learned. – Yours, etc,
DONALD EWING,
Head of Psychological
and Educational Services,
Dyslexia Association
of Ireland,
Joyce’s Court,
Talbot Street,
Dublin 1.
Sir, – It is worth remembering that many past and present learners owe much of their academic achievements to “rote learning”. – Yours, etc,
Dr TOM RIGNEY,
Fellow Emeritus,
Cork Institute
of Technology.