Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Should you try to 10X your learning? Probably not. There are lots of cases when prioritizing learning speed early on in the learning process backfires, ultimately resulting in poorer learning in the long run. Here are three.
Join my online learning community: benjaminkeep.com/community
00:00 Introduction
00:21 Three stories
01:32 The catch
01:56 The beginnings of an explanation
I initially came across the "mirror learning" example on page 310 of this book:
Magill, R., & Anderson, D. (2010). Motor learning and control. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing. https://www.academia.edu/download/62953224/Motor_Learning_and_Control__Concepts_and_-_Anderson__David20200414-28877-18hp4j2.pdf
This reference has a fuller description of the idea (though is testing a slightly different hypothesis):
Tremblay, L., & Proteau, L. (1998). Specificity of practice: The case of powerlifting. Research quarterly for exercise and sport, 69(3), 284-289. researchgate.net/profile/Luc-Tremblay-2/publication/13507905_Specificity_of_Practice_The_Case_of_Powerlifting/links/5805b11608aef179365e73b4/Specificity-of-Practice-The-Case-of-Powerlifting.pdf
Note that learning with a mirror doesn't always impair performance without a mirror (or improve skill acquisition during practice). (See for instance: Lynch, J. A., Chalmers, G. R., Knutzen, K. M., & Martin, L. T. (2009). Effect on performance of learning a Pilates skill with or without a mirror. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 13(3), 283-290. sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859208001666)
The math feedback example comes from this study:
Fyfe, E. R., & Rittle-Johnson, B. (2017). Mathematics practice without feedback: A desirable difficulty in a classroom setting. Instructional Science, 45(2), 177-194. link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11251-016-9401-1
The Spanish word study is at:
Bahrick, H. P. (1979). Maintenance of knowledge: Questions about memory we forgot to ask. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 108(3), 296. psycnet.apa.org/record/1981-00448-001
But I'm basing my discussion on the description of the study as made by Robert Bjork, here:
Bjork, R. A. (1994). Memory and metamemory considerations in the. Metacognition: Knowing about knowing, 185(7.2). It's really such a great article; one that I've revisited many times. Get in touch if you want a pdf copy.
Should you try to 10X your learning? Probably not. There are lots of cases when prioritizing learning speed early on in the learning process backfires, ultimately resulting in poorer learning in the long run. Here are three.
Join my online learning community: benjaminkeep.com/community
00:00 Introduction
00:21 Three stories
01:32 The catch
01:56 The beginnings of an explanation
I initially came across the "mirror learning" example on page 310 of this book:
Magill, R., & Anderson, D. (2010). Motor learning and control. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing. https://www.academia.edu/download/62953224/Motor_Learning_and_Control__Concepts_and_-_Anderson__David20200414-28877-18hp4j2.pdf
This reference has a fuller description of the idea (though is testing a slightly different hypothesis):
Tremblay, L., & Proteau, L. (1998). Specificity of practice: The case of powerlifting. Research quarterly for exercise and sport, 69(3), 284-289. researchgate.net/profile/Luc-Tremblay-2/publication/13507905_Specificity_of_Practice_The_Case_of_Powerlifting/links/5805b11608aef179365e73b4/Specificity-of-Practice-The-Case-of-Powerlifting.pdf
Note that learning with a mirror doesn't always impair performance without a mirror (or improve skill acquisition during practice). (See for instance: Lynch, J. A., Chalmers, G. R., Knutzen, K. M., & Martin, L. T. (2009). Effect on performance of learning a Pilates skill with or without a mirror. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 13(3), 283-290. sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859208001666)
The math feedback example comes from this study:
Fyfe, E. R., & Rittle-Johnson, B. (2017). Mathematics practice without feedback: A desirable difficulty in a classroom setting. Instructional Science, 45(2), 177-194. link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11251-016-9401-1
The Spanish word study is at:
Bahrick, H. P. (1979). Maintenance of knowledge: Questions about memory we forgot to ask. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 108(3), 296. psycnet.apa.org/record/1981-00448-001
But I'm basing my discussion on the description of the study as made by Robert Bjork, here:
Bjork, R. A. (1994). Memory and metamemory considerations in the. Metacognition: Knowing about knowing, 185(7.2). It's really such a great article; one that I've revisited many times. Get in touch if you want a pdf copy.
