Commonly referenced in curriculum of all grades, concept learning is valuable and necessary in a student’s education and growth. However, no matter how often the teaching of concepts may be emphasized by the educator, concept-centered curriculum is often a challenge for students to learn. A common challenge for teachers is that while students may retain principles and facts, understanding of concepts and how to apply that knowledge often goes overlooked.
According to Sydelle Seiger-Ehrenberg in “Developing Minds: A Research Book for Teaching Thinking”, a prevalent misconception is that concepts can be taught and learned the same way as facts. But in reality, concepts and facts require different approaches and different learning strategies. The problem is that facts and concepts often get lumped into the same category, making students unable to distinguish the differences between them. This results in students’ incomplete understanding of subjects and lessons.
To begin to understand how to better help students with concept learning, let’s begin with the definition of a concept. Then we will move to the discussion of ways you can ensure your students achieve their full potential and understand this important form of learning.