response follows quote:
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From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] on behalf of Edmiston, Mike [edmiston@bluffton.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 2:53 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Lack of rigor: low increase in crit. thinking
John Denker appears to have been the type of student who sees something once, understands it, and further practicing with it is "busy work." I haven't seen many students who are that way, although I don't doubt they exist. I certainly agree that extra "practice" at some point becomes "busy work" and I try to find a happy medium between sufficient work and busy work.
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What I believe that Dr. Denker is stating is that repetitions of incorrect behavior are no better--indeed, worse--than single instances of incorrect behavior. Unless the learner is informed of a mistake, the learner is likely to make the same mistake in each of multiple iterations of the same problem. If, however, timely feedback is available to guide the learner, (s)he can then apply the new information or an improved approach to later attempts. In sum, additional practice may be necessary for many, but is only of value if errors are addressed before they are repeated and engrained.