Some people say drill and practice is really "drill and kill." What can teachers do to make sure this kind of use doesn't happen and drill and practice can serve a useful function?
Using the computer for repeated drill and practice can motivate children to practice skills that they are lacking. One positive feature of drill-and-practice software is that it provides children with immediate feedback on whether that answered the question correctly or not. This keeps students from practicing an incorrect response and making it permanent; it is harder to re-teach skills that have been learned incorrectly. Some computer-based drill-and-practice programs (FASTT MATH) recommend limiting the use to 10-15 minutes a day. Teachers can also find different ways for students to practice the same skills. For students who have learning disabilities affecting their long-term memory the number of times a skill has be repeated for facts to “stick” is much greater than a “normal” child. Students can learn the alphabet, numbers, math facts, foreign languages, etc. using drill-and-practice software. When choosing software it is important to have control over the rate of presentation and the level of skill. Software should also be age appropriate for the student. By using the computer to assist in this repetitive task the student is not singled out, because all students should have access to the computer on a routine basis. When students do learn “facts” it builds confidence that they can achieve.
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I never thought of the benefits of the privacy of drill and practice software. I have often thought that despite the "boring" process, drill and practice was a necessary part of a student's learning experience. I think you are right that computers will likely motivate the students. If the teacher finds an interesting way to drill and practice, then the students will have fun while doing the necessary task. In the kindergarten classes, the teachers always have chanting and song to help the students memorize.
ReplyDeleteThe benefits of drill and practice affect special education students a great deal. You mentioned about the immediated feedback drill and practice provides which is very important for all students, but especially for students with disabilities. The constant repetitiveness is crucial to the learning of these type of students. The time limit is also important in implementing drill and practice because the student might get bored after a while.
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