Yes, spaced repetition and regular testing are effective in a purely mechanical sense. They’re good ways to acquire knowledge and skills. But, it’s really worth

Yes, spaced repetition and regular testing are effective in a purely mechanical sense. They’re good ways to acquire knowledge and skills. But, it’s really worth noting second order considerations. Does the median student enjoy the testing and repetition enough to be motivated to do them? Do they understand the utility or applications of the skill? Are you even teaching the right set or sequence of skills? I think these considerations have gotten more traction in recent years, possibly at the cost of acquiring the skills themselves. That said, I don’t think the cynicism in the article about teachers just wanting fun easy activities is warranted. They have to consider other things than the most mechanically effective methods of learning.