Most people use knowledge and skills interchangeably. Some realize there is a difference but they never really thought through what it means. Surprisingly, most course designers don't understand the distinction either. This is one of the reasons why vocational training and skill development programs in the social sector struggle to produce strong student outcomes.
To appreciate the difference, it's useful to think of knowledge as information. Information can be delivered or recevied in a variety of ways. You can listen to a lecture, read a book or a manual, watch a video, etc. Repetition, especially spaced repetition, is a proven method for improving the retention of information.
Skills have to be learned by doing. Practice improves skills. This can be used as a simple test to differentiate between knowledge and skills. Anything that improves with practice is a skill.
It is easy to design knowledge transfer as part of a course. It takes much more effort to ensure that students retain knowledge or improve the skills they have been taught.
To significantly improve student outcomes, course designers need to start doing two things. First, differentiate between the knowledge and skill elements of their course. Second, include sessions to revisit key concepts and provide dedicated opportunities to practice skills.