[jmilloy]

Maybe, maybe not; I'm not sure.

But I am sure that a student who understands and can apply a specific process when required as well as produce a correct result is better off than one who can only produce a correct result.

Obviously I don't think that all of school should be rote application of techniques. But I've found that when you want to make sure your students have learned a specific technique, you sometimes have to create a somewhat artificial request. Have you taught enough to have found otherwise?

[maxerickson]

Nope, I'm not a teacher.

(I tutored math in college and did have the experience of helping people understand math...)