Blocked practice is a learning strategy where a single skill or topic is practiced repeatedly until mastery before moving on to another skill or topic. This method is straightforward and allows for focused, intensive practice, making it ideal for the early stages of learning when you need to build a strong foundation in a particular area.
Initial Skill Acquisition: It’s most effective when you are first learning a new concept or skill because it allows you to concentrate fully on understanding and mastering that specific area.
Reinforcing Basic Skills: For tasks that require precise repetition, like learning musical scales, basic arithmetic, or handwriting, blocked practice helps reinforce muscle memory.
Building Confidence: Because the practice is repetitive and focused on one task, it helps you build confidence as you see quick improvements in that specific area.
Choose the Specific Skill or Topic
Start by identifying the exact skill or concept you need to master. For example, in language learning, this could be conjugating a specific verb tense.
Set Clear Learning Goals
Define what success looks like for this practice session. For example, you might aim to correctly conjugate a verb in five different sentences without mistakes.
Create a Practice Schedule
Dedicate a specific amount of time to this practice. For example, spend 20 minutes each day focused solely on this one skill or concept until you feel confident.
Practice Repeatedly
Engage in repetitive practice of the skill. For instance, if you are learning mathematical multiplication, you might repeatedly solve multiplication problems with the same number set (e.g., all problems involving the number 7).
Monitor Progress
Keep track of your performance. Note where you are improving and where you might still be struggling. This could be through self-assessment, quizzes, or practice tests.
Seek Feedback
If possible, get feedback on your practice from a teacher, tutor, or peer. This feedback can help you adjust your focus if you are making repeated errors.
Review and Refine
After a set period, review your progress. If you have achieved the mastery of the topic, move on to the next skill. If not, continue practicing or adjust your approach.
Transition to Interleaved or Varied Practice
Once the skill is mastered, it may be helpful to begin incorporating it into broader practice sessions using interleaving or varied practice to ensure that the skill is retained and can be applied in different contexts.
Blocked practice is a highly effective method for initial learning and skill acquisition. It’s most beneficial when you need to focus on building a strong, confident understanding of a particular topic or skill. However, for long-term retention and application, transitioning to interleaved or varied practice is recommended after mastery is achieved.