An ongoing debate has always existed when it comes to teaching and learning, whether conceptual understanding of a topic is more important or understanding the procedure is. Let us first try to differentiate the two with the help of a very simple example.
“Which direction does water flow?”
A conceptual understanding gives us the ‘why?’ or the reason behind the direction in which the water flows. Whereas, procedural knowledge would present the ‘how?’. If you were to explain this to a child between 5-7 years, how would you do it? (Share it in the comments section below this article).
Howard Gardner in his book, ‘Frames of Mind’ written in 1983 described the various characteristics of learners. The combination of styles that each has individual varies from one another. For instance, when we talk about music, have you ever been asked if you are a ‘lyrics person’ or a ‘beat/tune person’? In the same manner, learning styles too differ between individuals. One individual may grasp a theory better when it is explained to them with a working model, another may just by reading a paragraph explaining it and another just needs to look at a diagram. Have you ever thought what your learning style is? You may end up saving a lot more time by recognizing that. But, if you are a parent or a teacher reading this, remember, that your learning need not be what your own child or student follows. Genes need not necessarily attribute to such cognitive functions.
School textbooks only provide a standardized curriculum, it is dependent on the teaching and learning process on how that can be initiated differently among students. Enabling this form of learning is important but one must agree that conceptual and procedural knowledge exist on a learning continuum and cannot be separated. The relations and intersections formed between learning styles can only strengthen this process of teaching and learning.
Ranjani's Sepulcher 