FAA Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI)The Learning ProcessMedium
A CFI has a student continue performing steep turns to a high, consistent standard well beyond the point at which the ACS standard was first met, in order to make the skill automatic and resistant to breakdown under stress. This training technique is known as:
- AMassed practice
- BDeliberate practice
- CSpaced practice
- DOverlearning
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Overlearning
Overlearning refers to continued practice of a skill after it has already been adequately learned, making performance more resistant to stress, forgetting, and emergency breakdown.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Massed practice refers to concentrating all practice into one long session, not continued practice past mastery.
- B. Deliberate practice refers to focused, goal-directed practice generally, not specifically the concept of practicing past mastery.
- C. Spaced practice refers to distributing practice sessions over time, not extending practice past mastery.
Overlearning
Continued rehearsal or practice of a skill beyond the point where it is initially performed correctly, in order to make the response more automatic and durable under stress.
- Increases resistance to forgetting and stress-induced breakdown
- Especially valuable for emergency procedures
- Different from massed or spaced practice, which describe scheduling of practice
Memory trick: OverLEARN means practicing past 'good enough'