Understanding by Design: Understanding Understanding

I thought/ I remember….

I enjoyed reading about the distinction and differences between understanding information and ideas and knowing information. The educational world is taking this big swing, with the idea that kids should be understanding what’s going on, rather than just knowing and memorizing with the ability to regurgitate what they “learned”. There’s something to be said for teaching for understanding. When a kiddo is able to come at the subject from multiple angles and see the connections from each, there is some true understanding there. It’s all about making connections, not about regurgitation.

In the field…

 You see the old and the new; meaning you see what teaching once was and what it could be, is hoping to be, and what it will hopefully end up as. We all see the teaching still that involves regurgitation, and a child not learning for understanding, but learning for memorization, which can be somewhat discouraging. But none the less, I have seen this in the field- understanding and applying it to the big picture. Educators give kids the information and the tools so they can approach the information from different angles and then hopefully find some understanding and start making connections.

"The aha moment: the moment of sudden realization, inspiration, insight, recognition, or comprehension"

I believe…

 I believe this is what it’s all about. I think that the goal in every classroom, regardless of the outcome is teaching for understanding. Teachers teach in hopes that students are making awesome connections to prior experiences or things they’ve learned in years before. The hope is that some things are connected to their lives and things around them, and that they can recognize that!

A connection I can make is…

 I think a connection I can make to this is (and maybe already did) was towards the beginning. It’s all about making connections, not about regurgitation. I see it most days while I’m at school. Kids are really getting things when they’re making connections to other things going on, whether that’s in their everyday grind, something they remember from the year prior, or the simple things, like “Oh yeah 6+4=10 and 5+5=10!”

Knowledge in the body of connection