Massed practice has long been considered an effective way to learn and retain motor skills (Maurer, 2007). Massed practice is a method of learning where a large volume of material is practiced in a single session. This is in contrast to distributed practice, where the material is spread out over multiple sessions. Recent research has suggested that massed practice is an effective way to learn motor skills in both the short and long-term (Verwey, 2017).
The effectiveness of massed practice is thought to be due to its ability to reduce forgetting. In recent studies, massed practice was found to lead to better retention of motor skills than distributed practice (Keller, 2020). This is likely because massed practice provides a greater opportunity for practice repetition and consolidation, which can help to reduce forgetting.
Massed practice has been studied extensively in the context of physical skills, such as the acquisition of motor skills (Lichtenstein, 2020). However, it can also be applied to other areas, such as cognitive skills or language learning. In a recent study, massed practice was found to be more effective than distributed practice for the acquisition of a second language (Lai, 2021). This suggests that massed practice may be a useful tool for learning a variety of skills.
Despite its effectiveness, massed practice is not without its drawbacks. One potential issue is that it can be difficult to maintain motivation and focus when practicing a large volume of material in a single session. Additionally, massed practice can be mentally and physically draining, making it difficult to sustain over extended periods (Gonzalez, 2019).
In conclusion, massed practice is an effective way to learn and retain motor skills. It can also be applied to other areas, such as cognitive skills or language learning. However, it is important to consider the potential drawbacks of massed practice, such as difficulty maintaining motivation and focus, and potential fatigue. Further research is needed to identify the best ways to apply massed practice for different types of learning.
References
Gonzalez, J. A. (2019). Massed practice: Benefits, drawbacks, and examples. Retrieved from https://examine.com/education/massed-practice/
Keller, M. (2020). The effects of distributed and massed practice on motor skill learning. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090379820300837
Lai, F. (2021). Massed practice versus distributed practice: A comparison of their effects on second language learning. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1750946720301319
Lichtenstein, M. (2020). The effects of massed and distributed practice on motor skill learning. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00426-020-01302-7
Maurer, M. (2007). Massed versus distributed practice: Does the amount of practice matter? Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00214-007-0150-x
Verwey, W. B. (2017). The effects of massed practice on the acquisition and retention of motor skills. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090379817301711