5 ms·
The current theory isn't particularly lacking, the average teacher (let alone layperson's) understanding of it is lacking. Plus there's dozens of rubbish theori
by wisty 5y ago
The current theory isn't particularly lacking, the average teacher (let alone layperson's) understanding of it is lacking. Plus there's dozens of rubbish theories that are sorely lacking so you have to find the researchers that actually do solid research.
IIRC (see the above, it applies to random comments on the internet) drill work is more effective (but feels less effective to both teachers and students) if it's mixed up with different topics or question types, kind of like how doing a kata is better than doing exactly the same punch 10x (obviously katas are not ideal either, at least not as the only tool).
Really you need a bit of diversity, and IMO two of the big traps to fall into are overly homogenous drill work (which doesn't retain as well as mixed drills, but looks effective because anyone who doesn't eat their crayons can do it without thinking too hard) and one-off problems (do an assignment where you solve a heavily obfuscated problem once, then pretend that it's now something that students actually understand, when they've literally just answered one single question assuming they even did it themselves).
- stenl 5y agoIn first grade we were given a workbook for learning how to write the letters. There was one whole page of A, one page of B, etc. You had to write maybe 100 As in a row. The kids quickly figured out that the fastest way to do it was to first write the left slant 100 times, then the right slant 100 times and finally all the 100 crossbars. So yes, you do need a little variety to defeat such shortcuts.
- varjag 5y agoWhat a brilliant way to teach kids economies of scale.
- TrispusAttucks 5y agoAccording to the article this is actually a really good way for kids to learn and improve. The point being that just practicing the lines is hugely important.
- TeMPOraL 5y agoExactly. That page full of A's, whether they "cheat" it or not, will teach the kids how to draw all lines that make an A. Repeat that with other letters, and then throw combination of different letters into the mix, which will force kids to draw one letter at a time, after they've already mastered all the component movements in isolation.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]