H. Lynn Erickson on the Difference between Memorizing and Thinking

“The difference between a topic-centered and an idea-centered curriculum/instruction model is the difference between memorizing facts related to the American Revolution and developing and sharing ideas related to the concepts of freedom and independence as a result of studying the American Revolution. It is the difference between viewing the O.J. Simpson trial and drawing insights into the concept of justice from discussions of the trial. It is the difference between the facts of the Alaska oil spill and an understanding of the importance of environmental sustainability. Finally, it is the difference between the construction of mathematical angles and knowledgeable application of geometric form to ensure architectural strength in design.”

Excerpted from: Erickson, H. Lynn. Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction: Teaching Beyond the Facts. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin Press, 2002.