Final answer:
Random practice is better for long-term learning and encourages the ability to carry over learning to new tasks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Random and blocked practice are two different approaches to learning. In random practice, you alternate between different skills or tasks during practice sessions. For example, if you're learning to play the piano, you might practice scales, arpeggios, and songs in a random order. On the other hand, blocked practice involves focusing on a single skill or task at a time. You might spend a whole practice session just working on scales, then another session just working on arpeggios.
When it comes to long-term learning and the ability to carry over learning to new tasks, research suggests that random practice is more effective. This is because random practice helps to strengthen the connections between different skills and tasks, making it easier to transfer learning to new situations. Additionally, random practice promotes deeper learning and engagement, as it requires the learner to constantly switch between different contexts and adapt their skills.
For example, let's say you're learning to solve different types of math problems. If you practice each type of problem in a random order, you'll develop a better understanding of the underlying principles and strategies that can be applied to solve any type of problem. On the other hand, if you practice each type of problem in separate blocks, you may become proficient in each type individually, but you'll have a harder time applying your knowledge to new and unfamiliar problems.