1. Whole and Part Practice
Chapter 18
Whole and Part Practice
Concept: Base decisions about practicing skills as wholes or in parts on the complexity and organization characteristics of the skills

2. Definitions Whole practice Part practice
A practice strategy that involves practicing a skill in its entirety (i.e., as a whole)
Part practice
A practice strategy that involves practicing parts of a skill before practicing the whole skill

3. Skill Complexity and Organization
The decision to practice a skill as a whole or in parts can be based on the complexity and organization characteristics of the skill (Hypothesis by Naylor & Briggs, 1963)
Complexity: number of parts or components in a skill, and the attention demands on the task
Note: “Complexity” is distinct from “difficulty”
Organization: spatial and temporal relationships among the parts of the skill
High level of organization: parts are spatially and temporally interdependent
Low level of organization: parts are relatively independent

4. Decisions to Use Whole or Part Practice
Analyze the skill to determine which part of each continuum for complexity and organization best represents the skill
If the skill is low in complexity and high in organization, practice of the whole skill is best
If the skill is high in complexity and low in organization, practice by using the part method
See A Closer Look - Example for learning to juggle 3 balls

5. Example of making decision regarding use of whole or part practice: juggling
Skill Analysis
Complexity characteristics
Hold the 3 balls in 2 hands
Toss ball 1 from hand 1
Catch ball 1 in hand 2 while tossing ball 2 with hand 2
Catch ball 2 in hand 1 while tossing ball 3 with hand 2.
Catch ball 3 in hand 1 while tossing ball 1 with hand 2
Repeat steps 2 and 5.
Between-component timing:critical for performance
Conclusion. Three-ball juggling involves several component parts that are highly interdependent. Thererfore, juggling 3 balls is relatively high in complexity and in organization. Practicing the whole skill is appropriate method.
Supporting Evidence: Knapp and Dixon. Students who practiced juggling by whole method required 65 trials, part method required 77 trials.

6. Practicing Parts of a Skill
Three part-task strategies (From Wrightman & Lintern, 1985)
1. Fractionalization:
For skills requiring asymmetric coordination of the arms or legs
Practice individual limbs
Begin practicing with limb requiring more difficult or more complex part
2. Segmentation
Also known as the progressive-part strategy
Begin practice with first part of skill then progressively adds each part until skill is practiced as a whole

7. Practicing Parts of a Skill
Three part-task strategies (From Wrightman & Lintern, 1985)
1. Fractionalization:
For skills requiring asymmetric coordination of the arms or legs
Practice individual limbs
Begin practicing with limb requiring more difficult or more complex part
2. Segmentation
Also known as the progressive-part strategy
Begin practice with first part of skill then progressively adds each part until skill is practiced as a whole

8. Practicing Parts of a Skill, cont’d
3. Simplification
Reduce skill difficulty by practicing an easier (i.e., simpler) variation of the skill before practicing the skill itself
Examples of simplification methods
Reduce object difficulty
Reduce attention demands
Reduce movement speed
Add auditory cues
Progressive sequences of increasing skill difficulty or complexity
Simulators and virtual reality environments

10. Practicing Parts of a Skill, cont’d
3. Simplification
Reduce skill difficulty by practicing an easier (i.e., simpler) variation of the skill before practicing the skill itself
Examples of simplification methods
Reduce object difficulty
Reduce attention demands
Reduce movement speed
Add auditory cues
Progressive sequences of increasing skill difficulty or complexity
Simulators and virtual reality environments

11. Practicing Parts of a Skill, cont’d
3. Simplification
Reduce skill difficulty by practicing an easier (i.e., simpler) variation of the skill before practicing the skill itself
Examples of simplification methods
Reduce object difficulty
Reduce attention demands
Reduce movement speed
Add auditory cues
Progressive sequences of increasing skill difficulty or complexity
Simulators and virtual reality environments

12. Practicing Parts of a Skill, cont’d
3. Simplification
Reduce skill difficulty by practicing an easier (i.e., simpler) variation of the skill before practicing the skill itself
Examples of simplification methods
Reduce object difficulty
Reduce attention demands
Reduce movement speed
Add auditory cues
Progressive sequences of increasing skill difficulty or complexity
Simulators and virtual reality environments

13. Attention Approach to Involving Part Practice in Whole Practice
When it is not advisable or practical to separate parts of a skill for practice
A “part practice” strategy that provides both part and whole practice:
Practicing the whole skill but focus attention on specific parts that need work