Overlearning: When Too Much Practice Becomes a Problem

  Introduction   In our rapid-paced, competitive world, it is vital to develop new skills and remember information. Most people seem to believe that the most important part of learning is practice and repetition. True, practice contributes to learning, but as we shall note in this article, one can overlearn. Overlearning occurs when the learner continues to practice the skill or rehearse information even when they have reached mastery. It may seem beneficial to practice a skill or rehearse information continually, but continuing to practice and rehearse it can be counterproductive due to the diminishing returns of additional practice, mental fatigue and reduced transferability. The following article will define overlearning, how overlearning may affect cognitive processes, and we will discuss ways to practice in an effective manner without overlearning. What is Overlearning? Overlearning is the act of continuing to study or practice a skill when one has already achieved a leve...