A rather belated post, but I wasn't here first time around. Hopefully this will be forgiven. If not, c'est la vie.

Digest dry, difficult material and regurgitate it without any attempt at comprehension

That phrase gave me the biggest belly laugh of any I have seen here. Partly, because it is, of itself funny. Partly because it reminded me of a piece of advice my first boss (and mentor) in the IT industry came up with.

<paraphrase>

If you want to learn, listen.

Absorb, be like a sponge, but don't take anything anyone says, regardless of who they are, as right. Prove it to yourself, for yourself. If you don't reach the same conclusions, question, but don't challenge. If your still not convinced, don't argue, just do more research.

Eventually, you will arrive at a conclusion that works for you. You may then offer that opinion, but remember that the next listener may well arrive at a different conclusion to you, so be prepared to be wrong.

Oh! And just because I told you to be sponge like, I don't want to hear you running around verbally dribbling stuff you've overheard!

</paraphrase>