---
title: Building Conceptual Understanding
description: In this episode of the Inside Our MINDs podcast, Director of ST Math Content Ki Karou delves into how the brain learns, and what kinds of instruction can facilitate schema building for conceptual understanding in math.
image: https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/social-suggested-images/inside-our-mind-blog-header-1200x800-1-5.png
---

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# Building Conceptual Understanding

By [Brian LeTendre](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/author/brian-letendre)

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In each episode of the Inside Our MIND podcast, we take a look at issues and challenges facing education that we are working to address through research, technology and strategic initiatives.

In our latest episode, Brian welcomes Director of ST Math Content Ki Karou back to the show for a discussion on [conceptual understanding](https://www.stmath.com/conceptual-understanding). Ki gives an overview of the difference between procedural and conceptual learning, and how schemas are the foundation of conceptual understanding. He also delves into the neuroscience of deeper learning, and the shift in approach needed to facilitate conceptual learning in the classroom.

> From a neuroscience perspective, essentially conceptual learning is building a schema.
> 
>  - Ki Karou

You can listen to the episode in the player below: 

Topics Covered in the Podcast:  
0:45 Intro

2:00 MathMINDs Games: South of the Sahara Release ([mindresearch.org/mathminds-games](https://www.mindresearch.org/mathminds-games))  
4:00 Conceptual Understanding and Schema Building  
5:30 Procedural vs. Conceptual  
8:00 Shifting Mindsets for Conceptual Learning  
10:30 Conveying Information Visually  
13:00 Assessing Conceptual Understanding  
16:45 Teaching for Deep Understanding  
21:40 Research on Optimizing for Short-Term Vs. Long Term Learning  
28:45 Takeaways

Thanks for listening to the podcast! Please leave us a review on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker or wherever you are listening to the show. Subscribe to get future episodes as soon as they are released!    
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Additional Resources:

- [What Are Schemas?](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/schema-in-education)
- [A Math Class Structure that Facilitates Conceptual Understanding](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/math-class-structure-conceptual-learning)

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![Brian LeTendre](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/brian-letendre-headshot-305761-edited.png)

### About the Author

Brian LeTendre was the Director of Impact Advancement at MIND Research Institute. In addition to building thought leadership and brand awareness for MIND, Brian worked cross-functionally internally and externally to amplify MIND's social impact and accelerate our mission. He is an author, podcaster and avid gamer.

### Comment

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[Schemas Are Key to Deep Conceptual Understanding](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/schemas-deep-conceptual-understanding)

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