why Do students need factual knowledge in order to gain conceptual understanding?
Students need factual knowledge because it acts as the foundation, or building block for conceptual understanding-both are needed to promote learning with understanding. With a foundation of factual knowledge, students are then able to
engage with the new content material. If they lack the base of essential facts, whether they are terms, ideas,
concepts, steps, etc., the new material will not make sense to students. In explaining in depth critical concepts needed for understanding, teachers must take in to consideration that a student’s prior knowledge and experiences are limited. The clearer facts are made and explained, the better students begin to understand them and apply them. Once concepts are applied in context, they take on a more real and deeper meaning to students. Students are then able to draw connections and see parts of a concept as not separate, individual pieces, but as part of a meaningful whole.
engage with the new content material. If they lack the base of essential facts, whether they are terms, ideas,
concepts, steps, etc., the new material will not make sense to students. In explaining in depth critical concepts needed for understanding, teachers must take in to consideration that a student’s prior knowledge and experiences are limited. The clearer facts are made and explained, the better students begin to understand them and apply them. Once concepts are applied in context, they take on a more real and deeper meaning to students. Students are then able to draw connections and see parts of a concept as not separate, individual pieces, but as part of a meaningful whole.