[DataDoxy]

This is a hot topic for sure and there are countless blogs like the one you shared where people stand firmly on one side of the issue.

For math, we know that all students can learn it but, in order to do this, teachers must ensure students understand it. Mere memorization does not promote deep understanding. Teaching conceptually first, then ensuring efficiency does.

Research tells us that traditional teaching methods (in math) only work for 20% of the population. This would NOT be acceptable if this was the stat for reading proficiency in schools but, for math people seem to be comfortable with the belief that many of us are just not "math people". Thus, the traditional way of teaching math remains the most common methodology in North American schools and the result is that many students do not learn the math they need and are required to know for the 21st Century.

My take on the debate between traditional memorization and understanding is ridiculous; we obviously need both! However, teaching math conceptually first and ensuring efficiency of facts after conceptual understanding is attained is the BEST strategy for knowing and doing math for the vast majority of learners.