The problem this solves
“I want to learn a subject by examples. How do I avoid copying them?”
Primary keyword: varied practice examples
What you'll learn
- Why one example is not enough
- Three rules for using examples well
- How to vary examples on purpose
- A weekly example-tour log
The science behind it: Varied Practice
Varied practice means practising the same underlying skill across a range of contexts and conditions, so the skill transfers beyond the examples used during study.
Why it matters
Skills over-fit to a narrow context if practised in only one context; varying conditions forces the learner to extract the underlying principle.
How to apply it
- Practise a skill in multiple settings, with multiple examples, against multiple phrasings.
- Ask yourself each time: what is the underlying principle here, separate from this example?
- Combine varied practice with feedback so you can correct mis-generalisations.
Common mistakes
- Treating variety as entertainment rather than as a learning mechanism.
- Varying surface details without varying the underlying problem structure.
- Stopping practice at the first successful example.
Read the full concept: Varied Practice.
Where this fits
Part of module Depth and Understanding.
More articles in this module
- Surface Learning vs. Deep Learning : surface vs deep learning
- Build Mental Models of Hard Topics : mental models learning
- Learn Anything With Analogy : analogy learning
- The Wrong Analogy Trap : wrong analogy
- Elaborate on a Textbook Chapter in 20 Minutes : elaboration chapter