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Information is no longer difficult to access, yet much of our education system still operates as though it is.

In 1985, memorization served a practical purpose. Without Google, smartphones, or AI, knowing information meant you didn't have to make a trip to the library or dig through an encyclopedia. But in 2026, when information is available almost instantly, why are we still requiring students to memorize facts they can easily look up?

In this episode of Because the Curriculum Says So…, I explore the changing purpose of memorization, the importance of foundational skills, and why schools continue to restrict technology instead of teaching students how to use it responsibly.

We look at the difference between memorization and awareness, the ongoing calculator debate, and the importance of teaching students how to find, evaluate, and use information.

I also share a personal experience from my years as a corporate trainer that demonstrates why teachers don't always need to have the answers. Sometimes, one of the most valuable things we can teach students is how to find those answers for themselves.

Technology isn't going away. Keeping it out of the classroom doesn't prepare students to use it effectively when they leave.

The question for this episode:

Why do we continue to require memorization of particular information when we can no longer explain its educational purpose?

Because the Curriculum Says So… explores what we teach, why we teach it, and whether the answer still makes sense in an age of instant information, technology, and AI.

https://laurabungarz.ca