Despite his intention to advocate student-oriented learning, Colin Evans (Letters, THES , November 30) could not be more wrong when he describes "understanding" as a "woolly substitute for precise thinking".
Understanding is not just analysing, describing, applying, evaluating and theorising It is about assimilating and accommodating dissonant data or ideas and developing different conceptual frameworks.
Student-centred learning does need facilitation through clear advice and guidance, but it also needs to empower the student so they become a critical lifelong learner.
Lee Harvey
Centre for Research into Quality
University of Central England in Birmingham