I'm convinced practicing the scales and committing them to memory is very helpful, if not one key to understanding the fretboard. The other is understanding the root positions in all the keys. Also helpful is learning and practicing them by number rather than by the note's alphabetical name. Say to yourself as you play the scale. "1, 3, 5, 1, 4, 7" etc. since chord construction is based on this. You can have alot of fun by developing simple melody lines for tunes by experimenting with the notes in the scale. It's alot of fun.