Interleaving and blocked practice are two distinct approaches to structuring study sessions and practice routines. Each method has its own strengths and is suited to different learning objectives.

Blocked Practice

Definition: Blocked practice involves practicing one type of problem or skill repeatedly before moving on to another. It groups similar tasks together in a concentrated manner.

Example: If you are studying mathematics, you might solve a series of addition problems before switching to subtraction problems.

  • Advantages:
    • Facilitates rapid improvements during practice sessions.
    • Builds immediate familiarity with a specific type of task.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Can create an "illusion of competence" where performance seems high in practice but may not translate to long-term retention.
    • Less effective for developing skills that transfer to varied contexts.

Interleaving

Definition: Interleaving involves mixing different types of problems or skills within a single study session. Instead of focusing on one type repeatedly, you alternate between several topics.

Example: In a math session, you might alternate between addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems rather than practicing one type exclusively.

  • Advantages:
    • Enhances long-term retention and deep learning.
    • Improves the ability to apply learned skills to new and varied contexts.
    • Encourages the brain to retrieve and apply different strategies, leading to better problem-solving skills.
  • Disadvantages:
    • May feel more challenging and less smooth during practice sessions.
    • Immediate performance might be lower compared to blocked practice.

Key Differences

  • Repetition vs. Variation: Blocked practice focuses on repetition of the same task, whereas interleaving introduces variation by mixing different tasks.
  • Short-Term vs. Long-Term Benefits: Blocked practice can lead to quick, short-term performance improvements; interleaving, however, is more effective for long-term retention and skill transfer.
  • Cognitive Engagement: Interleaving requires constant switching between different types of problems, increasing cognitive effort and enhancing learning outcomes. Blocked practice, by reducing task-switching, often lowers cognitive load during sessions.

Conclusion

Although blocked practice may boost immediate performance by allowing learners to focus intensively on one type of problem, interleaving is generally superior for building durable, adaptable skills. By requiring the learner to continually retrieve and apply a range of strategies, interleaving fosters deeper cognitive processing and better prepares learners for applying their knowledge in diverse situations.