Rethinking Learning in our classrooms through Made to Stick
Recently, I revisited Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, and one idea hit close to home for our classrooms in Pakistan, the Curse of Knowledge.
Once we know something, we forget what it felt like not to know it. And that’s where communication often breaks down.
In many of our classrooms, teachers explain concepts from an expert’s perspective, while students are still trying to understand the basics. The result? Students memorise, pass exams, and then forget everything.
The book reminds us that ideas stick when they are:
- Simple
- Unexpected
- Concrete
- Credible
- Emotional
- Story-driven
And when we look honestly at our classrooms, we must ask: How many of our lessons are actually designed to stick?
Because if learning disappears after exams, then something in the system needs to be rethought.
The Problem: Learning That Doesn’t Last
Across many Pakistani classrooms, success is still measured through exam scores rather than understanding. Students memorise chapters, reproduce answers, and then move on, often forgetting the content within weeks.
We have all seen this cycle:
Study → Memorise → Write exam → Forget.
The Heath brothers argue that ideas don’t stick simply because they are important. They stick when they are communicated in ways our minds can understand and remember.
This is where the Curse of Knowledge becomes dangerous. Teachers and experts often assume learners understand more than they actually do. Explanations become abstract, rushed, or overloaded with information.
Students nod. Teachers move on. Confusion remains.
Why Real-Life Connection Matters
Think of two ways of teaching electricity.
One teacher reads definitions and formulas from a textbook. Another teacher connects the lesson to household wiring, load shedding, mobile charging, and home safety.
Which lesson will students remember?
When lessons connect to daily life, curiosity increases. Students ask questions. Concepts make sense.
The book reminds us that people remember ideas that feel useful and real. And Pakistani students today need learning that helps them navigate life, careers, and real-world problems, not just exams.
Where Pakistani Classrooms Struggle
Let’s be honest about our system. Many lessons are still:
- Too theoretical
- Too exam-focused
- Too disconnected from everyday life
Students often ask, Is this coming in the exam? Instead of How will this help me?
Teachers, under pressure to complete the syllabus, may not always have space to slow down, tell stories, or try creative approaches.
But the cost is clear: learning without meaning.
The Changing Role of Teachers
Today, information is everywhere. Students can watch lectures online or ask AI tools for explanations within seconds.
So what makes a teacher valuable now?
Not just delivering information but making information understandable.
Teachers and mentors now need to:
- Simplify complex ideas
- Connect lessons with real-life situations
- Encourage curiosity and questions
- Help students understand before memorising
Students do not need more content. They need clearer guidance. Parents and mentors also play a role by encouraging children to ask questions and connect learning to daily experiences.
My Reflection
One question keeps returning to me at the end of each term: Are we preparing students to pass exams, or preparing them to understand life?
The future demands creativity, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. Memorised answers will not help students in interviews, workplaces, or entrepreneurship.
Ideas that stick build confidence and independent thinking. Education must move in that direction.
Small Changes Can Make Big Differences
Improvement does not always require big reforms. Small classroom shifts can help:
- Use stories and relatable examples.
- Let students explain concepts in their own words.
- Encourage questions without embarrassment.
- Connect lessons to local Pakistani realities.
- Focus on understanding before memorisation.
Sometimes, one meaningful lesson changes how students see learning forever.
Final Thought
Perhaps the goal of education should not be finishing the syllabus, but ensuring ideas remain with students long after school ends.
Because when learning sticks, futures change.
And maybe the true success of a teacher comes years later, when a former student says:
Sir, I still remember that lesson.