conceptual understanding
nounReally getting the big idea of something, not just memorizing the steps.
Her conceptual understanding of fractions helped her explain why one-half is bigger than one-third.
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OTHER MEANINGS
2. In education, knowing why a rule or method works, not only how to use it.
The teacher checked students' conceptual understanding by asking them to draw a picture of the idea.
3. In math and science, seeing how ideas connect to each other.
His conceptual understanding of gravity let him predict what would happen to the ball.
4. The ability to explain an idea in your own words.
She showed conceptual understanding when she taught the lesson to her little brother.
5. A mental model of how something works.
Building a model helped the class form a conceptual understanding of the water cycle.