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Workshop Scenario:

Please think of yourself in the following scenario as you complete this workshop.

Imagine you are a learner struggling to keep up with coursework. You are overwhelmed by the amount of material you need to learn and find yourself forgetting key concepts and details. Determined to improve your study habits, you enroll in a learning and studying techniques workshop. In that workshop, you learn about several excellent study techniques. 

Your final assignment is to choose a study technique to research and prepare to debate why you think that study technique is the best. Also, provide an example of how you used the study technique in your own life. 

In the last lesson, you learned about the spaced practice technique.

In this lesson, you will learn more about the interleaving study technique.

Remember to take notes on the pros and cons of interleaving. You will need to choose one of the study routines to debate later.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to…

• Understand interleaving and mixed practice for long-term memory

• Explain the benefits of these study techniques

• Create a personalized study routine by applying interleaving and mixed practice

Important Questions to Answer While Reading:

To be successful in this lesson, you must be able to answer these important questions.

1. What is interleaving, and how can it benefit learners?

2. What are the potential benefits of interleaving for memory retention, problem-solving skills, transfer of learning, motivation, and reduced boredom in the learning process?

Lesson 3: What is Interleaving or Mixed Practice?

What is Interleaving?

Interleaving, also known as mixed practice, is a learning technique that involves practicing different topics or skills in an alternating or randomized order rather than focusing on one skill at a time. This approach helps learners to better retain and apply knowledge by enhancing their ability to differentiate between different types of problems and strategies, as well as promoting deeper learning and transfer of learning to new situations.

Benefits of interleaving topics

The benefits of interleaving topics in learning include improved knowledge transfer, enhanced problem-solving skills, improved memory retention, increased motivation, and reduced boredom. Interleaving involves practicing different topics or skills in an alternating or randomized order rather than focusing on one skill at a time. It can make the learning process more engaging, interesting, and effective.

1. Improved transfer of learning: Interleaving can improve the transfer of learning, which refers to the ability to apply what has been learned in one context to another context. Interleaving helps learners to develop more flexible and adaptable knowledge by promoting the creation of connections and associations between different topics or skills. This enhances learners' ability to transfer their knowledge and skills to new situations and solve problems that require integrating multiple skills or concepts. 

2. Enhanced problem-solving skills: Interleaving can improve problem-solving skills. By practicing different topics or skills in an interleaved and randomized order, learners are forced to retrieve and apply their knowledge more varied and flexibly. This helps them better understand how different concepts or skills relate and how to use them in other contexts. As a result, learners become more adept at solving complex and unfamiliar problems that require integrating multiple skills or concepts and more creative in their problem-solving approaches.

3. Improved memory retention: Interleaving can improve memory retention. Interleaving involves practicing different topics or skills in an alternating or randomized order rather than focusing on one skill at a time. This approach helps reinforce learning by creating connections and associations between different concepts or skills, promoting deeper encoding and retention of information in long-term memory. By practicing in an interleaved manner, learners are also forced to retrieve and apply their knowledge in a more varied and flexible way, which can further enhance memory retention and retrieval.

4. Increased motivation: ​​Interleaving may increase motivation for some learners. Practicing different topics or skills in an interleaved and randomized order exposes learners to various tasks, making learning more exciting and engaging. This approach can also help learners overcome boredom or frustration from repeatedly practicing the same skill or topic. However, it's important to note that the impact of interleaving on motivation can vary depending on the individual learner and the specific learning context.

5. Reduced boredom: Interleaving can reduce boredom in the learning process. Learners who practice different topics or skills in an interleaved and randomized order are exposed to various tasks and less likely to become bored or disengaged. This is in contrast to a blocked practice approach, where learners practice the same skill or topic repeatedly, which can lead to monotony and disengagement. Interleaving can help learners stay motivated and focused on their learning goals by keeping the learning process exciting and challenging.

Ways for incorporating interleaving into your study routine

To incorporate interleaving into your study routine, choose a mix of subjects or skills and vary the study order. Use a structured approach and reflect on your process to identify what worked well and what didn't to improve your learning outcomes.

1. Choose a mix of subjects or skills: To practice interleaving, select a combination of topics or skills you want to study. This can be different school subjects or skills related to a particular subject.

2. Vary the order of study: Rather than studying one subject or skill for an extended period, mix up the order of study. For example, if you're studying math, you could practice different types of problems or concepts in alternating or randomized order.

3. Use a structured approach: To ensure you cover all the topics or skills you want to study, use a structured approach. You could create a schedule or plan that specifies which topics or skills you'll study on which days and in what order.

4. Reflect on your process: After practicing interleaving, reflect on your method to identify what worked well and what didn't. This can help refine your study routine and improve your learning outcomes.

Closing Assessment:

Now that you have reached the end of this lesson, you should know the following:

1. What is interleaving, and how can it benefit learners?

Advance your understanding:

Please answer the following question in the comment section below and interact with learners from around the world.

• Do you think interleaving is a technique that could be applied to all subject areas? Why or why not?

Please read and reply to other learners’ answers in the forum by stating if you agree or disagree with their answers and why. Your replies should offer new substantiated ideas or thoughtful questions.