Overlearning

Overlearning is a concept in psychology and education that refers to the practice of continuing to study or practice a skill after initial proficiency has been achieved. The goal of overlearning is to achieve automaticity, or the ability to perform tasks without conscious effort, thereby freeing up cognitive resources for other tasks.

Definition

Overlearning is defined as the continued practice of a skill or study of information after it has been mastered. The term was first introduced by Ebbinghaus, a pioneer in the study of memory, who found that overlearning can improve retention of information over time. Overlearning is often used in educational settings, particularly in the learning of complex skills or information that must be recalled quickly and accurately.

Benefits

The primary benefit of overlearning is the development of automaticity. When a skill or piece of information is overlearned, it can be recalled or performed without conscious effort. This can free up cognitive resources for other tasks, and can also improve performance in high-pressure situations where there is little time for conscious thought.

Overlearning can also improve long-term retention of information. Studies have shown that information that is overlearned is less likely to be forgotten over time. This can be particularly beneficial in educational settings, where students often need to retain information for long periods of time.

Drawbacks

While overlearning can have many benefits, it also has potential drawbacks. One of the main criticisms of overlearning is that it can be time-consuming. In some cases, the time spent on overlearning could be better spent learning new information or skills.

Overlearning can also lead to rigidity, or the inability to adapt skills or knowledge to new situations. This can be particularly problematic in fields where flexibility and adaptability are important.

Applications

Overlearning is used in a variety of fields, including education, psychology, and the military. In education, overlearning is often used to help students master complex skills or information. In psychology, overlearning is used in therapy to help patients develop new habits or behaviors. In the military, overlearning is used to train soldiers to perform tasks automatically under high-pressure situations.

See also

• Spaced repetition
• Rote learning
• Mastery learning
• Deliberate practice