{"id":9721,"date":"2025-08-28T17:42:37","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T17:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/sg\/blog\/declarative-and-procedural-knowledge\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T07:43:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T07:43:23","slug":"declarative-and-procedural-knowledge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/sg\/blog\/declarative-and-procedural-knowledge\/","title":{"rendered":"Declarative And Procedural Knowledge : Exploring Key Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In education, gaining knowledge is a fundamental part of <\/strong>learning<\/strong><\/a>\r\n for each student. However with time there are many ways to gain knowledge based on need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern education<\/strong><\/a>\r\n offers flexibility in learning<\/strong><\/a>\r\n to conquer success through various approaches. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two essential types such as declarative and procedural knowledge<\/strong> help learners how to learn, remember and apply in the real world<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding these two <\/strong>types of knowledge<\/strong><\/a>\r\n is crucial for parents, facilitators and students to implement the best at the right time to achieve success. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Declarative Knowledge?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Declarative knowledge is knowledge of facts, concepts and information that can be consciously recalled and expressed. <\/strong>It is an answer to this question: What do you know?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is essential in the first levels<\/strong> where the learners have to build a background knowledge on the topic being learned. Declarative knowledge<\/strong> like general knowledge about the world and individual experiences<\/strong> saved in the episodic memory are recorded in semantic memory.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some other examples of declarative knowledge are understanding the law of inertia or recognising the spring season. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Procedural Knowledge?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Procedural knowledge<\/strong> on the other hand depicts knowledge of the way to do something.<\/strong>  It is about abilities, tactics, and procedures of working<\/strong>.  Procedural knowledge is the answer of: How do you do it?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It mainly focuses on actions, not verbal explanations<\/strong> like declarative knowledge. Learners main focus is to complete the task<\/strong> which develops accuracy and perfection due to practice. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some examples of procedural knowledge include knowing how to make coffee or exploring computer software. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Difference Between Declarative and Procedural Knowledge<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before using<\/strong> both declarative and procedural knowledge<\/strong> one needs to understand each in depth<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is worthwhile comparing declaring and procedural knowledge<\/strong> in several aspects<\/strong> to know fully about their functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a comparison table:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Particulars<\/strong><\/td>Declarative Knowledge<\/strong><\/td>Procedural Knowledge<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Definition:<\/strong><\/td>Knowledge of facts, concepts, and info<\/td>Knowledge of how to perform tasks<\/td><\/tr>
Alternate Name:<\/strong><\/td>\u201cKnowing what\u201d<\/td>\u201cKnowing how\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
Nature:<\/strong><\/td>Explicit and conscious<\/td>Implicit and often unconscious<\/td><\/tr>
Examples:<\/strong><\/td>Capital of Italy is Rome<\/td>How to ride a bicycle<\/td><\/tr>
Learning Method:<\/strong><\/td>Reading, listening, observing<\/td>Practicing, doing, experiencing<\/td><\/tr>
Memory Type:<\/strong><\/td>Stored in explicit memory<\/td>Stored in implicit memory<\/td><\/tr>
Verbalization:<\/strong><\/td>Easy to explain verbally<\/td>Difficult to explain; shown in action<\/td><\/tr>
Assessment:<\/strong><\/td>Through written tests and quizzes<\/td>Through demonstrations and tasks<\/td><\/tr>
Development:<\/strong><\/td>Comes before procedural in most cases<\/td>Often builds on declarative knowledge<\/td><\/tr>
Application:<\/strong><\/td>Understanding rules, theories<\/td>Applying those rules in practice<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Nature of knowledge<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Declarative Knowledge<\/strong> jumbles up facts, ideas and information<\/strong>. It is the knowledge ( e.g. the knowledge that 2+2=4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Procedural Knowledge<\/strong> showcases how to do things<\/strong>. It is the familiarity with how to go about it, for example how to solve math problems step by step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Question Answered<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The question being tested with Declarative Knowledge is What do you know?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question of the form, How do you do it? is taken care of by Procedural Knowledge.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Learning Process<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Learning<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Declarative Knowledge<\/strong> is obtained through reading, listening and memorization<\/strong> mostly. It is the learning acquired in the form of passivity and is taught more usually specifically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Procedural Knowledge<\/strong> is what we draw out of practice, practical experience and doing the same<\/strong> repetitively<\/strong>. It is a process of active learning which is done and acted upon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Memory Type<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In declarative knowledge the memory type is stored in explicit or semantic memory<\/strong>. It means it provides long-term memory individuals can consciously access.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in procedural knowledge<\/strong> the memory is stored in implicit memory.<\/strong> This type of memory is operated unconsciously or automatically by learners. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Verbalization<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Verbalization\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In declarative knowledge<\/strong> one can easily explain and describe through verbal communication<\/strong>. Also explore how to improve communication skills in students<\/strong><\/a>\r\n. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand procedural knowledge needs demonstration<\/strong> instead of verbal which is hard or takes much more time and preparation to explain.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Declarative Knowledge<\/strong> is used to understand concepts, rules and principles<\/strong>.  This does not necessarily have to be applied<\/strong> in doing things but it will help to achieve an effective theoretical knowledge<\/a>\r\n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Procedural Knowledge<\/strong> is utilized in the bid to carry out processes and knowledge materialized<\/strong>.  It helps learners in decision making and <\/strong>problem-solving<\/strong><\/a>\r\n through practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Learning Method<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Learning<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The learning method<\/strong><\/a>\r\n used in declarative knowledge is based on reading instruction observation listening<\/strong> etc. While in the case of procedural knowledge<\/strong> it is different. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here students learn through practice experience repetitions for better understanding and accuracy. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Communication<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\".<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The communication preferred<\/strong> in declarative knowledge is based on explanation, through diagrams or written content. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in the case of procedural knowledge the best way of communication is demonstration or practice in real life. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Examples<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Examples\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Knowing that the Earth rotates around the Sun is what we call Declarative Knowledge<\/strong>; it is the facts about grammar of a language, dates, historical facts that have been memorized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Procedural Knowledge includes things like how to ride a bike<\/strong>, work out a quadratic equation, write an essay<\/strong> or carry out an experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Declarative and Procedural Knowledge Examples<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some common examples of declarative knowledge based on science, history, and general facts includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Declarative Knowledge<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Declarative<\/figure>\n\n\n\n