"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards."
Vernon Sanders Law
Many educators (and educatees) have this notion in their mind that everything that is important to know can be summarized on a single piece of paper, memorized, and viola, you're smarter. While I tend to agree with the "single piece of paper" approach, I'm pretty much anti-memorization. I'm also anti-single channel. Even parrots can be taught to recite anything verbatim. They still do not understand it. I'm pro-understanding.
The most valuable lessons that we learn occur in a mix of approaches/channels. Learning any new discipline is going to be no different than learning to walk, to talk, to ride a bicycle, to swim, or to drive a car. You make a lot of mistakes. Memorization won't keep you from making mistakes.
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