I have a huge problem when courses, workshops, seminars, trainings, call-it-what-you-will that uses the word “understanding” as an objective.

I propose a 3-step experiment

1: Ask dozen 8yr-olds if they understand why they need to say please, excuse me and thank you.

2: Ask the test group to explain why it is important to say please, excuse me and thank you.

3. Record the test group throughout their normal day and document how many times they actually apply please, excuse me and thank you correctly.

My hypothesis is that all of the test subjects understand the importance of polite behaviors – they just don’t always apply the behaviors

And that brings me back to where I began. I find it much more critical for a “learner” (for lack of better word) to know when, where, why and how to apply a behavior. Knowing the when, where, why, who and how will by default take care of understanding.

Learning you can apply or information you understand? Arguments can be made for both sides, but I work in corporate America with a focus on results. And to me application=results.