Why mix different kinds of practice problems?
A worksheet on one method quietly tells you which method to use. A mixed set removes that clue. Research on mathematics practice raises a useful question: should practice make the next answer easier, or prepare you to recognize what an unfamiliar problem requires?
Questions you could explore
- How does choosing a method differ from carrying it out?
- What did the study compare, and how long after practice were students tested?
Start reading
- Rohrer and Taylor; University of South Florida repositoryThe Shuffling of Mathematics Practice Problems Boosts Learning
The authors’ university-hosted abstract describes separate mathematics experiments on spacing practice and mixing problem types.
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