Too little, too much: A limited range of practice 'doses' is best for retaining grapho-motor skill in children. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ghanamah, Rafat; Eghbaria-Ghanamah, Hazar; Karni, Avi; Adi-Japha, Esther
• Is Part Of: Learning and instruction. Volume 69(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Practice -- Task repetition -- Skill -- Retention -- Invented letter task; Learning -- Periodicals; Teaching -- Periodicals; Apprentissage -- Périodiques; Enseignement -- Périodiques; Learning; Teaching; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 370.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.learninstruc.2020.101351
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4752

Abstract

Abstract: We tested how practice 'dosing' affects learning (within-session) and long-term retention of a grapho-motor skill in 7–8 year old children. In Experiment 1, participants practiced the production of a letter-form by connecting dots (Invented Letter Task, ILT) in a single session of 6-blocks, 12-blocks, or 24-blocks. Training on 24-blocks resulted in the fastest letter production at the end of the training session. By 4–5 weeks post-training, the 12-blocks group attained equally robust speed gains as the 24-blocks group, and was more accurate. No long-term gains were achieved after 6-blocks training. In Experiment 2, children who were afforded 6-blocks ILT practice on four consecutive days outperformed the single-session 24-blocks group by 4–5 weeks post-training. Overall, by 4–5 weeks post-training, the single-session 12-blocks practice group was most fluent and accurate. The results suggest that only a limited range of practice schedules may lead, efficiently to long-term gains in children's grapho-motor skill learning. Highlights: 7–8 year olds practiced a grapho-motor skill in varying intensities ('doses'). Limited practice produced no lasting benefits despite good learning within-session. Extended practice resulted in best within-session gains. Retention was better after intermediate 'dose' or 4 limited daily practice sessions. Learning and skill retention are differentially affected by practice 'dose'.