Drill-and-practice software Definition of drill-and-practice software Purpose of drill-and-practice software Characteristics of drill-and-practice software Criteria for good drill-and-practice software Benefits of drill-and-practice software Limitations of drill-and-practice software software Strategies for integrating drill-and-practice software Guidelines for using drill-and-practice software Examples of drill-and-practice software

Definition of drill-and-practice software Drill-and-practice software is application software that provides exercises in which learners work individually on items and receive feedback on their correctness.

Purpose of drill-and-practice software The purpose of drill-and-practice software is to have the learner memorize information. The focus is on response accuracy and speed. Memorize Retrieve quickly Retrieve accurately

Characteristics of drill-and-practice software Flash card activity: Most basic type of digital drill-and-practice. A question is presented and the learner types of chooses an answer. The program responds with positive or negative feedback. Branching drill: Program moves the learner on to more advanced questions or lower level questions depending on the correctness of the answer provided by the learner. Feedback activities: Detailed (remedial) feedback is provided by the program on why the answer that the learner is incorrect. Click to view branching drill-and-practice flowchart.

Criteria for good drill-and-practice software The learner should have control over the presentation rate. The answer judging mechanism employed by the program should be able to discriminate between correct and incorrect answers. Feedback to correct and incorrect answers should be appropriate: Feedback must be simple and display quickly. Feedback to incorrect answers should not be more interesting than the feedback to correct answers. Example: Lack of control Example: Inadequate judging mechanism Example: Inappropriate feedback

Benefits of drill-and-practice software Can allow effective rehearsal that learners need to transfer information into long-term memory. Allow learners to recall information (prerequisite for complex concepts) more rapidly. This leads to automaticity or automatic recall of information. Provides immediate feedback. The learner is immediately informed whether or not his/her response is accurate. This enables the learner to make corrections very quickly. Digital based practice may motivate the learner to do the practice that is needed. Learners can practice on their own without the presence of the teacher. The teacher can attend to other learners’ needs. This saves the teacher’s’ time.

Limitations of drill-and-practice software Perceived misuses: Teachers present drills for teaching functions that drill are ill suited to accomplish. E.g. drill-and- practice software is used for introducing new concepts. Criticism by constructivists: Critics believe that drills do not allow for the construction of knowledge.

Strategies for integrating drill-and-practice software Supplement or replace paper-based worksheets and homework exercises with digital drill-and-practice software. Digital drill-and-practice programs can be used during the preparation for a test.

Guidelines for using drill-and-practice software Make be sure that the learners have been introduced to the concepts underlying the drill. Set time limits to prevent the learner from getting bored. Assign drill-and-practice exercises to individual learners and not a group of learners. Use learning station with different kinds of activities in not all students need drill- and-practice.

Examples of drill-and-practice software Addition machine Cell components Times Tables Grid KS2 Mental Maths KS2 Word Types KS2 Food Web

Branching drill flowchart Information Question Correct 1st time? Correct 2nd time? 8 Questions All correct? Remedial information Close Yes No Start