Someone changed my mind about repetition

I used to believe that the principal reason some people can solve pretty much any math problem on a given topic is that they have done more exercises on that topic. Hence, I concluded that more people would be better at math if teachers stopped trying to be nice and just assigned a lot more homework.

But, perhaps, more important than doing 50 problems is understanding the theory behind it, either on an intuitive or rigorous level, deeply. Perhaps making students do 50 problems is just mean, and any benefits of it aren't worth it.

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raysam363 · 31-35, F

Repeated problems are fine for drilling formulas into their heads, but like you mentioned, it doesn't really give a deep learning. Rote isn't understanding.

33person · 26-30, M

@raysam363 The question, in those cases, becomes, "But how much repetition?"

raysam363 · 31-35, F

@33person I'd say 30 problems should be the max for an assignment in grade school, though I regularly had 60-100 problems due in one night.

33person · 26-30, M

@raysam363 What were the pros and cons of you having 60-100 due in one night?

raysam363 · 31-35, F

@33person Not many pros, considering you also had other homework assignments to work on. I suppose I did learn how much homework I could miss and still get a B. Chemistry was the worst though, she punished the entire class with ridiculous homework.

33person · 26-30, M

@raysam363 Yeah, it seems the intended purpose is not what ended up happening.