How do we define "content acquisition"?

(I) "Ability to carry out correct process"?

...or (II) "students understand the Meanings"?

Pragmatic reasons: lack of "carry-over"

A major hurdle : habits and beliefs of students
Mathematics "is":

Calculations..
Formulas & Algorithms..
Re-writing/manipulation of symbols..
Getting "the right (final) answer"..

In College Algebra especially. We're FOILed
by Mathematics seen as Memorized Mechanical Manipulation (M3) of symbols.

Student performs FOIL on (a+b)(c+d) = ...

Same Student tells us that (a+b)2 = a2 + b2

→ Avoid: "Process without meaning"