Final answer:
Overlearning is suitable for situations requiring long-term retention of knowledge/skills or recall under stress, such as medical emergencies, music performances, and academic tests. It builds confidence and durable memory but can also lead to boredom and overconfidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Overlearning would be an appropriate approach when mastery of a skill or knowledge is crucial and must be retained for a long period, or when the material must be recalled under stress. For example, emergency procedures for healthcare professionals, musicians perfecting a piece for a concert, or students preparing for high-stakes exams like the SAT or Advanced Placement (AP) tests might greatly benefit from overlearning. In these scenarios, overlearning ensures proficiency and automaticity of the required skills or knowledge.
The strengths of overlearning include increased confidence, reduced anxiety during performance, and the creation of a more durable memory trace. However, there are limits to this approach, such as the potential for boredom, diminishing returns on time invested, and the risk of overconfidence leading to a lack of continued practice and potential skill decay.