Use less artificial, more useful practice tasks in class experiments on learning, such as higher multiplication tables, square and square-root tables, stenographic characters, or proofreader's marks¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

In its closing recommendations the article proposes replacing artificial code tasks with more useful classroom practice materials. It states it "would be desirable if the particular exercises chosen for the classroom tests and for the practice series represented tasks less artificial and more useful than those discussed in this experiment," and lists candidate tasks: higher tables of multiplication, tables of squares or square roots, short methods of multiplication, stenographic characters, and correcting faulty proof with proofreader's marks. Some of these suggestions may be tried out with subsequent classes.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Tasks must be ones in which the student is not already practiced and in which improvement is possible within a relatively short practice.

Constraints¶

• The article only proposes these tasks as suggestions to be tried out with subsequent classes; it did not test them itself.

Target Learners¶

• college students in educational psychology

Target Learning Goals¶

• illustrating practice effects, transfer, and interference with meaningful classroom material

Related Strategies¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Dearborn, W. F., and Brewer, J. M. (1918). Methods and Results of a Class Experiment in Learning. The Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. IX, No. 2. https://psycnet.apa.org/journals/edu/9/2/