Final answer:
Assimilation is the process of integrating new experiences into existing schemas, while accommodation requires altering the schema to incorporate new information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which an existing schema is used to understand something new in the environment is known as assimilation. This process involves integrating new information or experiences into our existing mental frameworks without altering them. For example, when 2-year-old Abdul, who already has a schema for dogs, sees other four-legged, furry animals, he might call them dogs because they fit into his current understanding of that category. However, when he encounters an animal that does not fit his existing schema, such as a sheep, he must adjust his schema to differentiate between dogs and other animals. This modification is referred to as accommodation, which involves changing the schema to include new information that differs from what was previously known.