Combining watching and doing: mixing practice methods is beneficial for motor learning

How can we make learning through physical practice more effective? A wealth of evidence suggests that watching others successfully performing a task can augment our own learning, when combined with physical practice. However, there is limited scientific guidance on the most effective way to combine observational and physical practice. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the potential benefits of this combined practice approach, and determine the most prudent timing for integrating observational practice in the learning process to achieve the best – immediate as well as long-term – performance outcomes.

We compared several individual physical practice groups, which were differentiated by the presence/lack of observational practice and by the timing with which the observation was implemented. Participants performed a computer aiming task, where the visual feedback was consistently biased in the clockwise direction as they attempted to direct a cursor to a target.

Generally, interspersing observation and physical practice was the best method for learning, as compared to physical practice alone or to providing observation trials all only before or all only after physical practice. Essentially, this means that when mixed in throughout a physical practice session, observational practice can be an effective learning enhancement and even partial replacement to physical practice. Replacing rest breaks with observation trials was also more beneficial for learning than simply allowing unstructured breaks during physical practice.

Additionally, relevant to this study: learning can be more aware and intentional (explicit) or more unconscious (implicit) in nature, depending on contexts and learning methods. Based on various measures, it was found that the evident benefits of learning through observation occurred via more explicit, strategic neural processes in comparison to “unaware” implicit learning processes that are known to be a feature of learning through physical practice.

This research served to support the idea that switching up one’s methods of practice with a blend of physical practice and observation, referred to as an interleaved practice style, has a notably positive impact on our ability to learn and perform motor skills.