Interleaved and Variable Practice

It is interleaving mix all the topics, more effective in developing categorization and problem-solving skills. It improved the ability to transfer knowledge. It enhances the brain's ability to differentiate or discriminate between concepts and strengthens memory associations.

The variable practice involves studying one topic very thoroughly before moving to another one. It doesn't allow the students to skip to another topic and go back once they feel it.

Interleaving is better than variable learning because it involves retrieval practice that can lead to long-term retention. Interleaving is beneficial for the students, less pressure, and can save time in studying.

Example for interleaved learning:

If someone needs to learn words from topics such as animals, foods, and clothes for a class, instead of learning all the words from one topic before moving on to words from the next one, they can mix words from the different topics to study. That means that a student could devote some time to math, some time to chemistry, some time to biology, and then cycle back through the topics.

Example for Block Practice:

If the student is studying Biology, she needs to focus on biology. If she feels bored, she is not allowed to move in from biology to chemistry. Block Practice puts a little bit of pressure on the students. They are required to finish one topic first before proceeding to the next topic.