Practice Makes Perfect: Truth Or Fiction?

Sometimes when we are teaching a particular concept, it seems very easy – especially if your students ‘get it’ pretty quickly, for the most part. But as most teachers know, “getting it” for a test or other assessment and learning, mastering and retaining information or a skill in a more long term way are two totally different things. But just how much time, studying, and practice does it take to get it down pat? The handy infographic below takes a look at the old adage “practice makes perfect”. Keep reading to learn more!

Practice Makes Perfect

• The 10,000 hour rule states that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become an expert
• There are 8,765 hours in a year
• A person with a full time job works 2,080 hours in a year
• So even if you dedicate 80 hours per week to deliberate practice, it will still take you nearly 2.4 years to become an expert

What is Deliberate Practice?

• Constantly striving for improvement
• Monitoring performance
• Evaluating success
• Working on aspects you aren’t ‘good’ at

What is NOT Deliberate Practice?

• Mindless repetition
• Watching another expert
• Teaching others
• Staying in your comfort zone
• Only working on what you’re good at