Blog #2

There are many things that unify and separate Skemp's idea's for relational and instrumental understanding. One of Skemps main ideas about relational understanding is that someone who knows the purpose and the method for the math they are doing. Instrumental is understanding the method, or in other words the process to get the right answer, but without knowing why they are doing it, or why it works. Even though Skemp highly favored relational understanding, he did note that they are not mutually exclusive. To truly understand a principle in mathematics, or to have a relational understanding, one must have the instrumental as well. One must know the method in which to get the answer. Skemp knew that a student must know the method and the purpose to truly have a relational understanding. Some of the main advantages Skemp talked about in regard to relational understanding is that it was easier to remember, it was easier to go from one problem to another, it gave students motivation to learn more. Instrumental understand however, could give more visible positive outcomes. Or in other words, it is easier and faster to see a page full of right answers with instrumental understanding. However, usually if the problems change a little bit, it will be harder for one with instrumental understanding to adapt. Overall there are many reason why a teacher would choose to teach for relational or instrumental understanding. However, Skemp felt that relational understanding would best serve all who learned it.