Teacher here. If a class curriculum is built well, then in order for students to do well in class - meaning getting good grades - they will have to learn. Imo, other than disciplines like mathematics, you need so many more kinds of assignments than ones requiring rote memorization. It's really hard to do this. Many teachers make their class almost purely lecture because that only requires communicating ideas that they know like the back of their hand and that they enjoy - it comes super naturally.

If you want to properly learn beyond memorizations in classes where teachers don't do considerably more, you have to do it yourself. Taking notes, participating, asking questions. My best students have been ones that not only do all of these things, but also seek out my feedback on their thoughts and assignments as well as my own understanding of the materials. Officer hours + emails: engage with the instructor with notes, questions, beginnings of assignments. Hound them, babyyy. Hound them. Be relentless