10 Questions
The beanbag study only focused on cognitive learning.
False
Varied practice improves your ability to transfer learning from one situation and apply it successfully to another.
True
Massed practice is more cognitively challenging than varied practice.
False
The evidence favoring variable training has been supported by recent neuroimaging studies.
True
The learning of motor skills from massed practice is consolidated in an area of the brain associated with higher-order motor skills.
False
Varied practice helps develop a narrower understanding of the relationships between different conditions and the movements required to succeed in them.
False
The beanbag study only involved two-foot and four-foot tosses.
False
Varied practice is only beneficial for motor skills learning.
False
The learning of motor skills from varied practice is consolidated in a different area of the brain than the learning of motor skills from massed practice.
True
The scope of variable training must always encompass the particular task being studied.
False
Study Notes
Massed Practice vs. Retrieval Practice
- Massed practice: single-minded, rapid-fire repetition of something to memorize, similar to cramming for exams
- Massed practice and rereading can create feelings of fluency, but are largely ineffective for true mastery and durability
- Retrieval practice: recalling facts, concepts, or events from memory, e.g., using flashcards
- Retrieval practice strengthens memory, interrupts forgetting, and is more effective than rereading for learning and remembering
Periodic Practice and Spaced Repetition
- Periodic practice arrests forgetting, strengthens retrieval routes, and is essential for retaining knowledge
- Spaced repetition, interleaving practice of two or more subjects, or getting a little rusty between sessions leads to longer-lasting learning and more versatile application
- Trying to solve a problem before being taught the solution leads to better learning, even when errors are made
Study and Quiz Effectiveness
- A study found that students who took a quiz on material learned better than those who simply restudied the material
- Quiz results showed that students who took an initial test recalled more material than those who restudied (68% vs. 54% after two days, and 56% vs. 42% after a week)
- Another study found that a study-only group showed the most forgetting of what they initially recalled (52%) compared to a repeated-testing group (10%)
Feedback on Wrong Answers
- Giving feedback on wrong answers strengthens retention more than testing alone
- Delaying feedback briefly produces better long-term learning than immediate feedback
Retrieval Practice in Education
- Even a single test in a class can produce a large improvement in final exam scores, and gains in learning continue to increase as the number of tests increases
- Retrieval practice is not widely used as a study technique, with only 11% of college students reporting its use
- Most students are unaware of the effectiveness of retrieval practice for learning and retention
Varied Practice
- Varied practice, like tossing beanbags into baskets at mixed distances, improves ability to transfer learning to new contexts and apply it successfully
- Varied practice develops a broader understanding of relationships between conditions and required movements, and a more flexible "movement vocabulary"
Learn about the differences between massed practice and retrieval practice, and how they impact learning and memory retention. Understand the effectiveness of each method for true mastery and durability.
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