Differences between Practical and Theoretical Learning

You can know everything about what to write, but if you don’t know how to write or even hold a pencil, can you really jot down what you have on your mind? The difference between these two situations is similar to the difference between practical and theoretical learning.

The point is that knowing something theoretically and putting it into practice are two different concepts. But, however different practical and theoretical learning may be, neither makes the other useless.But what are the actual differences between practical and theoretical learning? In this article, we will discuss them.

What is Theoretical Learning?

Theoretical learning is about learning concepts, principles, facts and explanations. It is usually learned through books, lectures, discussions, research and notes. It teaches the student what something is in theory, how it is supposed to work, and why it works. It teaches us about different possible approaches to a problem and gives us the information we need for practical learning.

For example, a digital marketer will learn what SEO is, what keywords are, and what search engines do, in theory. But even if the student has memorized all of these things, that doesn’t mean they can actually carry out the tasks.

What is Practical Learning?

Practical learning is about learning by actually doing a task rather than only memorizing it. In practical learning, we take the knowledge that we get from theoretical learning and use it to perform tasks. We learn practically by working on projects, assignments, experiments, simulations, and similar activities. Practical learning is mainly about performing tasks, making mistakes, getting feedback, and learning from those mistakes. Practical learning also makes us develop the ability to perform tasks independently.

For example, the same digital marketer will research keywords, optimize a page, and check its results.

What Is The Major Difference Between Practical and Theoretical Learning?

The major difference between practical and theoretical learning is that theoretical learning is about knowing the “what” of the concept and building understanding, while practical learning is about applying that understanding, performing tasks and developing usable skills. Practical and theoretical learning also differ in the way knowledge is acquired. Theoretical learning is acquired through books, lectures, notes and many other materials, while practical learning is acquired through working on projects, assignments, real-world situations and similar tasks.

For example, if one person has memorized the steps of graphic designing but has never practiced it, they will know what it’s about but might not know how to do it, so both practical and theoretical learning are necessary for a successful career.

The Outcomes and Experience of Both:

Practical and theoretical learning have different outcomes. Theoretical learning teaches you how to explain something, describe how it works and why, and analyze information, while practical learning teaches you how to perform specific tasks, create something, fix something, solve a problem, and adapt to a situation. Practical and theoretical learning are also different when it comes to getting experience. Theoretical learning gives us knowledge but without any direct experience, while practical learning gives us direct experience and teaches us how to use our knowledge in real-life situations.

How Do They Approach Problem Solving Differently?

Practical and theoretical learning differ in the way they deal with problems. Theoretical learning teaches you why a problem exists, gives you principles to analyze the situation, and helps you think before you act. It’s mostly helpful when there is no obvious answer. Practical learning, on the other hand, lets you discover what happens when you actually perform the task, teaches you how to deal with issues and develop decision-making skills.

This difference might seem small on paper, but it’s huge in real life as it can also affect employability. An easier way to understand this specific difference between practical and theoretical learning is: practical learning puts you on the ground to work, while theoretical learning works like a briefing before you get on the ground.

The Strengths of Practical and Theoretical Learning:

Practical and theoretical learning, even though different, have their strengths. Theoretical learning gives you the foundation while practical learning gives you the skill to build on it. In order to build something concrete you would also need a strong foundation to build it on. But only having the foundation is not enough either as you also need to know how to build. So the best approach is to not choose between practical and theoretical learning; instead, combine both for a better career. Practical and theoretical learning also build understanding in different ways.

Theoretical learning makes you understand concepts in theory. Practical learning makes you apply that understanding of the concepts and get experience. This again leads us back to theoretical learning, and then again to practical learning, which creates a loop of consistent and constant career growth. Practical and theoretical learning are very different in concept, but that difference does not make them enemies. It makes them complementary.

Which One Is Better For Different Situations?

As we discussed earlier, practical and theoretical learning have their strengths. But if a student has already done their basic education and is now preparing for their career launch, they may need to give more importance to practical learning. But if they are going into a career where they need to understand the subject deeply, in detail, theoretical learning may need to be their absolute first priority. Paying attention to these differences is very important when choosing a career.

All in all, theoretical learning gives you knowledge while practical learning gives you the ability to use that knowledge. Practical and theoretical learning are both important depending on your career choice. Based on what your career demands, you can either combine practical and theoretical learning or prioritize one over the other.

In certain career fields, theory without practice would just be unused knowledge. Practice without understanding can limit your growth. Neither makes the other useless. Theoretical learning gives you something to understand while practice gives you something to do with that understanding.