Relational vs. Instrumental

Relational understanding and instrumental understanding are both important according to Skemp, but Relational understanding is a better way of understanding because it is more lasting and can be applied to more situations. Both relational and instrumental understand are methods of getting correct answers to questions, the difference is that relational understanding explains not only how to get the right answer, but it also explains why that method works. This type of understanding, according to Skemp, is very important because it is allows students to form a deeper knowledge of a subject, rather than just mechanically solving problems the same way. This form of understanding, relational, is better in enabling students to get correct answers for varying questions, rather than the same problem with different numbers filled in. This is because instrumental understanding only explains how to do a problem. While this has its advantages, they are mostly short-term in that the student is able to get the correct answer quickly. A problem occurs, however, when a different type of question is asked in a given homework assignment, then the student is not able to adapt their knowledge to comprehend the new situation. Skemp believes that both forms of understanding are important and should be taught but instumental understanding can be taught within the more encompassing form of understanding called relational.