GUICK START GUIDE:
- Pick 4-8 subjects
- Pick a length of time between 4-20 minutes depending on how much time you have available and how many subjects you’ve chosen.
- Cycle through your chosen subjects in a random order. Changing strictly when the time runs out. use an app like MetroTimer to help.
In this video I discuss interleaving practice techniques, this is an alternative to block style practice. There are many benefits and caveats to this method but what I will say is once you understand the idea, implement it immediately and keep it simple. Save the complex programming and variations for when you understand the method and your response to it.
Further Reading and References
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-interleaving-effect-mixing-it-up-boosts-learning/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24960171/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4989027/
https://www.learningscientists.org/interleaving
https://www.learningscientists.org/learning-scientists-podcast/2017/12/6/episode-8-interleaving
Further Studies from the book –
(1) Taylor, K., & Rohrer, D. (2010). The effects of interleaved practice. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 24, 837-848.
(2) Shea, J. B., & Morgan, R. L. (1979). Contextual interference effects on the acquisition, retention, and transfer of a motor skill. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 5, 179-187.
(3) Rohrer, D., Dedrick, R. F., & Stershic, S. (2015). Interleaved practice improves mathematics learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 107, 900-908.
(4) Carter, C. E., & Grahn, J. A. (2016). Optimizing music learning: Exploring how blocked and interleaved practice schedules affect advanced performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 7.
(5) Rohrer, D. (2012). Interleaving helps students distinguish among similar concepts. Educational Psychology Review, 24, 355-367.