Concepts, Facts, and Procedures: Understanding the Building Blocks of Learning

Concepts are the things that need to be understood, facts are the things that need to be remembered, and procedures are the actions that need to be performed. When learning a new skill, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of what it means to be good at that skill. This involves identifying sources, critical thinking, weaving conflicting accounts, and evaluating evidence. Meta learning is essential to determine the mental changes needed to excel in a particular skill, which can involve memorization, practice, and understanding abstract concepts. Allocating about 10% of total learning time to meta learning can significantly enhance the learning process. Meta learning is often domain-specific and can provide scaffolding for gaining proficiency in a specific area, such as understanding the organization of characters in Mandarin or the workings of language tones.