This is the thirteenth in a series of posts explaining the Acton Academy Principles of Education.

Education Principle #13: Knowledge is a commodity. Applying knowledge is essential.

Knowledge is a commodity. Applying knowledge is essential.

• Focus is not on pure memorization

• Skill set to find the answers to questions and to apply those is key

Off the top of your head, what is the quadratic equation?

Unless you're a mathematician, you're probably stuck. If you're like most people, you'll likely recall the term "quadratic equation" but can't remember the actual equation.

Where would you go for the answer? Again, most of you will say "Google it". And, yes, that is the most efficient way.

Now think back 30 years ago. How would you have done it when there was no Google? It's likely you would have had to plan a trip to the library, look through the card catalog to find a math book, and look there for the quadratic equation. It may have been a whole day's journey. For that reason, the people that had memorized the quadratic equation were valuable - we considered them "smart".

Today, any one can pull up the quadratic equation in seconds and watch a 2 minute Khan Academy video on how to use it. Any one can do it. And doing that doesn't make you smart. Knowledge is a commodity - everyone has access to it.

So why do we continue to test students on it? Why do we make sure they memorize it. The changes in how we access information and knowledge should have profound differences in how we teach our children. We should focus on how the quadratic equation is applied in the real world or focus on developing problem solving, critical thinking and knowledge acquisition skills in other ways.

At Acton, the focus will be on developing skills that focus on acquiring and applying knowledge, not on memorizing it.

Further Recommended Reading: Humility is the New Smart: Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age by Edward Hess