This is absurd! Probably I'm saying this cos I'm particularly peeved at the fact that years of education under the UK education system (eg. O' levels), esp since I've just got back my prelim papers for my finals. Appears that the quality of argument and assessing the understanding of the students is secondary, compared to being capable of regurgitating what was studied. Probably cos I'm terrible at memorising, that I'm at a disadvantage.

Even more funny is these educators frequently talks about students who could understand the subjects are able to present the subjects in certain ways, like quoting the various arguments of theorists, to prove that we understand them. I could watch a kungfu film and imitate kungfu, but it doesn't means i really do know kungfu, or better still, how to really defend myself. I would have been able to understand the rationality of such approach, if the subjects involved are hard sciences, but soft science like psychology and business studies should be approached in such a way that the students understand the underlying rationality of theories, and hence able to apply or contest them, rather than mere regurgitation of theories and classical arguments.

I would have suggested that such old-British style of education be abolished, and perhaps take on a more American style of education, where the answer is not as important as the process. After all, in the real working world, the capability to recall knowledge is already being aided with the help of technology.

What technology cannot fully replace human, is the ability to analyse and perform decision making. One might argue that where problems encountered are structured and routine, one can compute an algorithm which would help tackle the problem, hence decision making. But in truth, someone MUST understand the problem 1st, and come up with plausible solutions to the problem, in order to program the computer to do it!