Emphasizing Expert Practice with Spaced Recall

TL;DR

This study investigates how spaced recall interventions can enhance physics students' expert problem-solving skills by promoting diagram use and reasoning over memorization.

Contribution

It introduces a spaced recall activity that encourages expert-like practices in introductory physics students, emphasizing diagram use and reasoning.

Findings

Students recognized the importance of diagrams in problem-solving

Students valued reasoning over memorization

The activity may effectively foster expert practices

Abstract

This paper explores an intervention that emphasizes expert practice using spaced recall. Interviews were performed with two students who were shown physics solutions, and were asked to repeatedly recall the solutions over a period of weeks. The students reflected that they became aware of the importance of using the diagrams to create equations, as well as the utility of reasoning over pure memorization. We believe that the structure of this activity may be an effective way of encouraging expert practice to introductory physics students.