Practical Scheduling Research Articles

Applying different levels of practice variability for motor learning: More is not better.

Variable practice is a broadly used tool to improve motor learning processes. However, controversial results can be found in literature about the success of this type of practice compared to constant practice. This study explored one potential reason for this controversy: the manipulation of variable practice load applied during practice and its effects according to the initial performance level and the initial intrinsic variability of the learner. Sixty-five participants were grouped into four practice schedules to learn a serial throwing task, in which the training load of variable practice was manipulated: one constant practice group and three groups with different variable practice loads applied. After a pre-test, participants trained for 2 weeks. A post-test and three retests (96 h, 2 weeks and 1 month) were carried out after training. The participants' throwing accuracy was assessed through error parameters and their initial intrinsic motor variability was assessed by the autocorrelation coefficient of the error. The four groups improved their throwing performance. Pairwise comparisons and effect sizes showed larger error reduction in the low variability group. Different loads of variable practice seem to induce different performance improvements in a throwing task. The modulation of the variable practice load seems to be a step forward to clarify the controversy about its benefits, but it has to be guided by the individuals' features, mainly by the initial intrinsic variability of the learner.

Effects of Single-Session Practice Structure on Motor Skill Acquisition and Alpha and Beta EEG Oscillations

Background: Although it is known that practicing a motor skill updates the associated internal model, it is still unclear as to how cortical oscillations linked with the motor skill change under differing practice schedules. The current study investigated α- and β-power changes associated with motor skill acquisition. Objectives: Firstly, we investigated the behavioral effects of practice on motor learning and retention during repetitive (RP) and variable (VP) practice schedules on an anticipation timing task. Secondly, we investigated changes in cortical α (10 - 13 Hz) and β (15 - 30 Hz) event-related synchronization and desynchronization (ERS/ERD) under RP and VP during early (EP) and late (LP) stages of practice. Methods: To investigate the behavioral effects of practice on learning and retention, participants were pretested, post-tested at 5 min (retention), and tested twice at 30 min (one for longer retention, one for transfer to a novel velocity). To investigate electroencephalography (EEG) α and β power changes, data were collected from electrode sites T7, T8, C3, C4, CP3, CP4, FCz, AFz, and Pz. Results: Based on a 2 × 4 (practice group × test block) ANOVA, results indicated a significant learning effect for both group participants, with VP participants performing better on the 30-min transfer test. To investigate EEG α and β power changes, data were analyzed using separate, 2 × 2 repeated measures ANOVA (group [RP and VP] × practice trial blocks [EP and LP]). Power analyses revealed (1) attenuated α ERD at T7 (cognitive/verbal rehearsal), C3 (motor cortex), CP3, CP4, and FCz (pooled data representing premotor cortices), and AFz (frontal cortex and attentional processes) during LP, with greater changes observed in premotor activity (PMA), T7, and AFz electrode sites in RP participants. β frequency analysis, using beta modulation depth (BMD), revealed that participants in both groups had increased BMD at premotor, motor, and frontal electrode sites at LP, with RP participants exhibiting greater changes. Conclusions: Results are in accordance with previous research indicating that practicing under a VP schedule leads to superior motor skill transfer than practicing under an RP schedule. Moreover, lesser changes in α ERD along and lower BMD observed in VP participants might be responsible for a more adaptable and flexible motor program, allowing for greater skill retention and transfer in individuals practicing under VP conditions.

Undesirable Difficulty of Interleaved Practice: The Importance of Initial Blocked Practice for Declarative Knowledge Development in Low‐Achieving Adolescents

AbstractThis study explored the effects of practice schedule on the processing of new second language (L2) vocabulary and resulting knowledge. Participants were 107 low‐achieving adolescents attending a vocational high school in Korea. They were randomly assigned to one of three practice groups and completed a L2 English–L1 Korean paired‐associates learning task. The blocking group practiced one word at a time before switching to different words (e.g., A/A/A/B/B/B/C/C/C); the interleaving group practiced multiple words in sequence (e.g., A/B/C/A/B/C/A/B/C); and the hybrid group had both blocked and interleaved practice. Results revealed that (a) interleaved practice alone posed undesirable difficulty for low achievers, (b) blocked practice in the early learning phase facilitated the development of new declarative knowledge, and (c) hybrid practice produced more robust long‐term retention than blocking and interleaving. The findings are discussed in relation to real‐time processing accuracy, reaction time, coefficient of variation, and meaning recognition test outcomes. Additionally, I explore possible applications of these findings in developing optimal algorithm‐based software for vocabulary learning.

Pilot fatigue evaluation with the method of weight TOPSIS

Abstract Fatigue is significant to many aviation accidents, so assessing pilot fatigue is critical to aviation safety. Traditional fatigue risk assessment studies often ignore the impact of difficult flight maneuvers on pilot fatigue. The study sought to develop a fatigue risk indicator system that could be integrated with airline data systems to achieve a more accurate assessment of pilot fatigue. The questionnaire content was determined by literature collection and methods, and 128 civil aviation pilots were surveyed by questionnaire. The influence of pilot scheduling, workload, working environment and other specific indicators on pilot fatigue was evaluated by Weight TOPSIS analysis method. Then the model is used to evaluate pilot fatigue for practical scheduling problems. The study found that lack of rest time, long working hours and red-eye flights were the most common causes of pilot fatigue. In practice, the fatigue evaluation system can be combined with the database information of the airline to help the airline rationally arrange the flight, minimize the fatigue index and ensure the safety.

Research on hybrid reservoir scheduling optimization based on improved walrus optimization algorithm with coupling adaptive ε constraint and multi-strategy optimization

Reservoir flood control scheduling is a challenging optimization task, particularly due to the complexity of various constraints. This paper proposes an innovative algorithm design approach to address this challenge. Combining the basic walrus optimization algorithm with the adaptive ε-constraint method and introducing the SPM chaotic mapping for population initialization, spiral search strategy, and local enhancement search strategy based on Cauchy mutation and reverse learning significantly enhances the algorithm's optimization performance. On this basis, innovate an adaptive approach ε A New Algorithm for Constraints and Multi Strategy Optimization Improvement (ε-IWOA). To validate the performance of the ε-IWOA algorithm, 24 constrained optimization test functions are used to test its optimization capabilities and effectiveness in solving constrained optimization problems. Experimental results demonstrate that the ε-IWOA algorithm exhibits excellent optimization ability and stable performance. Taking the Taolinkou Reservoir, Daheiting Reservoir, and Panjiakou Reservoir in the middle and lower reaches of the Luanhe River Basin as a case study, this paper applies the ε-IWOA algorithm to practical reservoir scheduling problems by constructing a three-reservoir flood control scheduling system with Luanxian as the control point. A comparative analysis is conducted with the ε-WOA, ε-DE and ε-PSO (particle swarm optimization) algorithms.The experimental results indicate that ε-IWOA algorithm performs the best in optimization, with the occupied flood control capacity of the three reservoirs reaching 89.32%, 90.02%, and 80.95%, respectively. The control points in Luan County can reduce the peak by 49%.This provides a practical and effective solution method for reservoir optimization scheduling models. This study offers new ideas and solutions for flood control optimization scheduling of reservoir groups, contributing to the optimization and development of reservoir scheduling work.

Enhancing MPTCP performance in wireless networks with PRS-MPTCP

In recent years, there has been a significant increasing demand for wireless networks, particularly mobile communication. Additionally, smart devices like mobile phones and tablets are able to use multiple interfaces simultaneously. In this regard, the concept of Multipath TCP (MPTCP) has been introduced, enabling the utilization of multiple interfaces for concurrent communication. However, packet loss and subflow heterogeneity, especially in wireless networks, cause an increase in Out-of-Order (OfO) packets at the receiver node, which leads to a decrease in the total MPTCP throughput. To address these performance-related challenges, numerous schedulers have been proposed. However, most existing methods have primarily focused on improving performance without adequately considering the impact of packet loss. This research paper provides a comprehensive overview of MPTCP schedulers. Subsequently, we propose a Practical and Robust Scheduler for MPTCP (PRS-MPTCP) with the specific aim of minimizing OfO packets to improve MPTCP performance in wireless systems. The PRS-MPTCP scheduler takes into account various characteristics of each subflow, including RTT, CWND, and the number of packet losses, to effectively decide which packets should be assigned to which subflow. By using Mininet-WiFi emulation, fair comparisons between PRS-MPTCP and the state-of-the-art schedulers have been conducted, considering throughput, the number of OfO packets, and retransmission rates as performance metrics. The evaluation results reveal the profound impact of selected parameters on the behavior of the schedulers and the overall performance of MPTCP. Ultimately, the results demonstrate that PRS-MPTCP guarantees acceptable throughput and achieves lower retransmission rates and fewer OfO packets compared to other methods. In the PRS-MPTCP, the number of OfO packets has decreased by 38 %, 37 %, 45 %, and 44 % compared to BLEST, ECF, RR, and the Default scheduler, respectively.

Operation estimation on multiple public transport timetables integrated with vehicle scheduling in practice

ABSTRACT Even-headway and even-load timetables have been in practice for the past 50 years. The former stipulates constant departures to cultivate users’ habits accordingly, whereas the latter is oriented from demand regulations aiming to further reduce waiting times. However, striking the balance between operation reliability (derived from even-headway timetabling) and an on-demand response to passenger fluctuation (referring to even-load timetabling) requires addressing major challenges presented by peak or alternatively off-peak demands. Our work addresses this imbalance by comparable estimation. The focused problem involves timetabling, vehicle scheduling, fleet size, and operation reliability based on an identical modeling framework simultaneously involving the three models. Nonetheless, their compatibility warrants a unified measure estimation. Hence, a mixed integer linear programming model is built. Finally, multiple timetabling performance comparisons are observed by the Auckland public transport system yielding sensitivity analysis.

Minimizing the total travel distance for the locker-based drone delivery: A branch-and-cut-based method

This article investigates the problem of minimizing the total travel distance in locker-based drone delivery, where the roofs of lockers are reused as parking platforms for drones. It is a drone routing and parking hybrid problem with modeling challenges. We find the sufficient and necessary conditions for feasible solutions and transform the original problem into a scale-tractable one. Subsequently, we propose a compact lower-bound formulation for the transformed problem and prove the total unimodality of the coefficient matrix. Furthermore, we develop a two-stage method in which a branch and cut algorithm solves the transformed problem and a heuristic constructs practical schedules for the original problem. Simulated tests demonstrate that the method can solve each simulated instance within one second. Random tests reveal that the method can efficiently solve instances with 1000 sites and 1500 tasks within an acceptable CPU time. A sensitivity analysis indicates that the complexity arising from routing flexibility is greater than that arising from parking flexibility.

Resource Scheduling Optimisation Study Considering Both Supply and Demand Sides of Services under Cloud Manufacturing

In cloud manufacturing environments, the scheduling of multi-user manufacturing tasks often fails to consider the impact of service supply on resource allocation. This study addresses this gap by proposing a bi-objective multi-user multi-task scheduling model aimed at simultaneously minimising workload and maximising customer satisfaction. To accurately capture customer satisfaction, a novel comprehensive rating index is introduced, integrating the actual completion cost, time, and processing quality against customer expectations. Furthermore, vehicle constraints are incorporated into the model to accommodate potential delays in transport vehicle availability, thereby enhancing its alignment with real-world manufacturing settings. The proposed mathematical model is solved using an improved three-stage genetic algorithm, which integrates the k-means algorithm and a real-time sequence scheduling strategy to optimise solution quality. Validation against alternative algorithms across various case scales demonstrates the efficacy of the approach in providing practical scheduling solutions for real-case scenarios.

Retrieval Practice and Word Learning by Children With Developmental Language Disorder: Does Expanding Retrieval Provide Additional Benefit?

The word learning of preschool-age children with developmental language disorder (DLD) is improved when spaced retrieval practice is incorporated into the learning sessions. In this preregistered study, we compared two types of spacing-an expanding retrieval practice schedule and an equally spaced schedule-to determine if one of these approaches yields better word learning outcomes for the children. Fourteen children with DLD aged 4-5 years and 14 same-age children with typical language development (TD) learned eight novel nouns over two sessions. Spacing for half of the novel words was expanded gradually during learning; for the remaining novel words, greater spacing remained at the same level throughout learning. Immediately after the second session and 1 week later, the children's recall of the words was tested. The children with TD recalled more novel words than the children with DLD, although this difference could be accounted for by differences in the children's standardized receptive vocabulary test scores. The two groups were similar in their ability to retain the words over 1 week. Initially, the shorter spacing in the expanding schedule resulted in greater retrieval success than the corresponding (longer spaced) retrieval trials in the equally spaced schedule. These early shorter spaced trials also seemed to benefit retrieval of the trials with greater spacing that immediately followed. However, as the learning period progressed, the accuracy levels for the two conditions converged and were likewise similar during final testing. We need a greater understanding of how and when short spacing can be helpful to children's word learning, with the recognition that early gains might give a misleading picture of the benefits that short spacing can provide to longer term retention. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25537696.

How Does Increasing Contextual Interference in a Musical Practice Session Affect Acquisition and Retention?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of three schedules of practice on high-level violinists’ learning. The contextual interference (CI) effect occurs when two or more tasks are practiced in an interleaved manner, which has been shown to impair initial learning but improve retention. How a musician alternates between tasks during practice can have a great impact on learning. This study was designed to explore how an increasing schedule of CI within a practice session would compare to the traditional blocked and random schedules. Sport research has shown a dynamically adaptive schedule to be advantageous, yet this area is relatively unexplored in music. Twenty advanced violinists at a music school practiced three sets of musical excerpts under three practice schedule conditions: blocked (pieces practiced one at a time), increasing contextual interference (blocked and then random), and interleaved (pieces randomly alternating). Recordings were taken at the stages of sight-reading, acquisition (immediately after practice sessions), and retention (24 hours later). Expert ratings of each musician’s recordings revealed no effect at the acquisition stage. However, at the delayed retention test, the blocked condition proved to be most effective. Fifty percent of participants perceived blocked practice to be the most effective.

Treatment Approaches to Speech Sound Disorders: A Scoping Review

Objective: The objective was to highlight and review different therapeutic approaches to cater to speech sound disorders in Pakistan. Methodology: To find the different therapeutic approaches, a literature search for related articles/ publications was conducted using the Keywords “speech sound disorders, phonological disorders, articulation disorder and a combination of words using search engines like Google & and databases like PubMed and other websites. Around 130 publications, reports, and articles were downloaded, of which 25 were used for literature review. Results: There are many treatments used to cater for speech sound disorders including contextual utilisation, phonological contrast, complexity, core vocabulary, cycles phonological pattern, distinctive feature therapy, metaphor therapy, naturalist speech intelligibility, non-speech oral-motor therapy, speech sound perception training and bilingual or cross-lingual approach. However, novel trends like the use of hybrid treatment, speech motor learning- phonetic placement approach, blocked practice versus serial practice schedule & interventions using biofeedback need to be utilized. Conclusion: Treatment approaches in use include contextual utilisation, phonological contrast, complexity, core vocabulary, cycles phonological pattern, distinctive feature therapy, metaphor therapy, naturalist speech intelligibility, non-speech oral-motor therapy, speech sound perception training and bilingual or cross-lingual approach, however, novel treatments need to be utilised. Keywords: Articulation disorders, Phonological disorders, Phonological Representations

Current patient care of systematic lupus erythematosus in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is aclinically heterogeneous autoimmune disease that is associated with great suffering for those affected, as well as high socioeconomic costs. Early diagnosis and adequate medical care are essential for amild course of the disease. However, there is a lack of current figures and data on the care situation of patients in the area. Atotal of 1546 general practitioners, rheumatologists, neurologists, nephrologists and dermatologists in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland were interviewed by fax or mail using aquestionnaire regarding epidemiology, symptoms, therapy and therapy success. In addition, there was the possibility of making suggestions for improvement. Five out of six of the 635 reported SLE patients were female. The most common main symptoms were arthralgia, fatigue, myalgia, and skin changes. Of the patients, 68% received antimalarials (AMs), whereas 46% were treated with glucocorticoids (GCs) and 50% with an immunosuppressant (IS), mainly methotrexate. In terms of comorbidities, patients suffered mainly from cardiovascular disease, fibromyalgia syndrome and depression. Rheumatologists also frequently described anaemia, diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis. Compared with guideline recommendations, the low rate of AMs in therapy was particularly striking in patients not treated by rheumatologists (35% on average compared with 81% for rheumatologists). Additionally, (sustained) high doses of GCs are not in line with literature recommendations. In the free text field, the main requests were for more rheumatologists in private practice and faster appointment scheduling, as well as better communication and networking. In addition, the desire for more training and education was frequently expressed..

Day-ahead joint scheduling of multiple park-level integrated energy systems considering coupling uncertainty of electricity-carbon-gas prices

In the context of carbon neutrality and energy shortage crisis, integrated energy systems achieve low carbon emissions through efficient conversion of various energy sources. However, most scheduling models of integrated energy systems merely regard the electricity, carbon, and natural gas prices as subject to deterministic distributions or simple constants, while their uncertainties are ignored which leads to less practical scheduling plans. In addition, most processing methods of uncertainty take no account of the correlations between uncertainties can result in less accurate evaluations of energy prices. Therefore, a day-ahead joint scheduling model considering coupling uncertainty of electricity, carbon, and gas prices with minimizing total operating costs of multiple park-level integrated energy systems as the objective is proposed to address the above issues. First, the correlation modeling of electricity and gas prices is conducted based on Copula theory, and an initial scenarios generation method of electricity-gas prices is then proposed; next, a typical scenarios construction method of electricity-carbon-gas prices’ coupling uncertainty based on multivariate quadratic polynomial regression-Copula is proposed; after that, the day-ahead joint scheduling model of multiple electricity-gas-thermal park-level integrated energy systems is established considering the typical scenarios of electricity-carbon-gas prices’ coupling uncertainty. Finally, the case studies on 3 energy systems verify the effectiveness of the proposed model. Results demonstrate accurate electricity-carbon-gas prices in typical scenarios with high correlations between uncertainties, and significant reductions in gas consumption and carbon emission by about 29.25% and 24.27% respectively.

A novel implicit decision variable classification approach for high-dimensional robust multi-objective optimization in order scheduling

This paper efficiently addresses the high-dimensional robust order scheduling problem. A novel algorithm named dynamic cooperative coevolution based on an implicit decision variable classification approach (DCC/IDVCA) is developed to search for robust order schedules. To significantly reduce the computational resources required for solving the high-dimensional robust order scheduling problem, we propose decomposing the original decision variables through implicit classification methods. First, a novel estimation method is introduced to evaluate the weighted contribution of variables to robustness. This method utilizes historical information, including the variation of the overall mean effective fitness and the frequency of variables being classified into highly robustness-related subcomponents in previous cycles, for evaluating their weighted contribution to robustness. Then, based on the corresponding weighted robustness contributions, the original variables are classified into highly and weakly robustness-related variables. Finally, these two types of variables are decomposed into highly and weakly robustness-related subgroups within a dynamic cooperative coevolution framework and optimized separately. In the experimental section, the proposed algorithm is applied to two practical order scheduling problems in discrete manufacturing industry. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves competitive outcomes compared to state-of-the-art high-dimensional robust multi-objective optimization algorithms.

Validity of Using the Load-Velocity Relationship to Estimate 1 Repetition Maximum in the Back Squat Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

LeMense, AT, Malone, GT, Kinderman, MA, Fedewa, MV, and Winchester, LJ. Validity of using the load-velocity relationship to estimate 1 repetition maximum in the back squat exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 38(3): 612-619, 2024-The one repetition maximum (1RM) test is commonly used to assess muscular strength. However, 1RM testing can be time consuming, physically taxing, and may be difficult to perform in athletics team settings with practice and competition schedules. Alternatively, 1RM can be estimated from bar or movement velocity at submaximal loads using the minimum velocity threshold (MVT) method based on the load-velocity relationship. Despite its potential utility, this method's validity has yielded inconsistent results. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the validity of estimated 1RM from bar velocity in the back squat exercise. A systematic search of 3 electronic databases was conducted using combinations of the following keywords: "velocity-based training," "load-velocity profiling," "mean velocity," "mean propulsive velocity," "peak velocity," "maximal strength," "1RM," "estimation," "prediction," "back squat," and "regression." The search identified 372 unique articles, with 4 studies included in the final analysis. Significance was defined as a p level less than 0.05. A total of 27 effects from 71 subjects between the ages of 17-25 years were analyzed; 85.2% of effects were obtained from male subjects. Measured 1RMs ranged from 86.5 to 153.1 kg, whereas estimated 1RMs ranged from 88.6 to 171.6 kg. Using a 3-level random effects model, 1RM back squat was overestimated when derived from bar velocity using the MVT method (effect sizes [ES] = 0.5304, 95% CI: 0.1878-0.8730, p = 0.0038). The MVT method is not a viable option for estimating 1RM in the free weight back squat. Strength and conditioning professionals should exercise caution when estimating 1RM from the load-velocity relationship.

Motor learning in golf-a systematic review.

Golf is a sport that consists of complex movement skills that need to be executed with utmost precision. Consequently, motor skill learning plays a crucial role in golf, and large numbers of studies address various methods of motor learning. In the present review, we give a systematic overview of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on motor learning of golf-specific motor skills. Three electronic databases were searched for RCTs looking at the effect of at least one learning method on performance in a golf-specific motor task. We grouped the studies depending on the learning strategies "cognitive training", "practice scheduling", "augmented feedback", "implicit and explicit learning" and "focus of attention". Fifty-two RCTs met the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review. Superior methods within their respective strategies were an external focus of attention and increasing contextual interference, as well as errorless learning. For "cognitive training" and "augmented feedback", no single method can be considered the most favorable. The overall biggest limitations were the lack of statistical power for more than half of the RCTs, and the fact that most studies of the present review investigated simple putting tasks in novices only. Although we have shown superiority of specific learning methods, transferability of the recommendations that can be derived from simple golf tasks in novices to sport-specific tasks in advanced players still has to be demonstrated and require study designs with the intention to provide practical recommendations for coaches and athletes in the sport of golf.

Promoting Exploration During Learning: Effect of Imposed and Self-Controlled Practice Schedules on Learners’ Behavioral Flexibility

ABSTRACT Purpose: Enriching learners’ motor repertoires in a complex pluri-articular task, such as climbing, could help learners’ adaptation to various sets of task constraints. Promoting exploration with variable practice conditions is one solution recurrently proposed. However, recent studies have shown that a too elevated exploration-exploitation ratio during practice could impair learning. A proposed solution is to give learners some control over their practice schedule, which appeared to better respect the individual learning dynamic in comparison to the usual experimenter-imposed practice schedule. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate whether giving learners the possibility of controlling when to confront to new climbing routes would result in greater flexibility in their motor repertoire compared to giving them an imposed schedule of climbing routes or a constant practice condition. Method: Participants were assigned to either a constant practice group (CPG), an imposed-variability group (IVG) or a self-controlled variability group (SVG) to carry out a climbing task. To assess participants’ behavioral flexibility, a scanning procedure was conceived by manipulating the route design and the instructions. Results: Participants showed an initial lack of flexibility as they strongly relied on a single coordination pattern. At posttest and retention, the three groups more frequently used a new hand coordination pattern and more often showed coordination patterns associated with high climbing fluency. Results suggest that the individualized rate of exploration in the self-controlled practice condition may have helped the learners improve their flexibility, whereas forcing exploration did not seem more beneficial than constant practice in this complex pluri-articular task.

A robust LP-based approach for a dynamic surgical case scheduling problem with sterilisation constraints

The purpose of this article is to investigate a practical scheduling problem in which a group of elective surgical cases are scheduled over time, while considering their unpredictable durations and potential delays in the sterilisation of surgical instruments. The primary objectives were to schedule the maximum number of surgeries and decrease overtime for the surgical staff, as well as limit the number of instruments requiring emergency sterilisation. The study was conducted in collaboration with the University Hospital of Angers in France, which also contributed historical data for the experiments. We propose two robust mixed integer linear programming models, which are then solved iteratively through a rolling horizon approach, in which the objective functions are taken into account in lexicographic order. Experiments on randomly generated instances indicated which of the two approaches had better performance. Comparison of the results for a real-world scenario involving actual planning at the hospital indicated a greater than 69% decrease in overtime, and a minimum of 92% fewer stressful situations in the sterilising unit.

The learning of sprint hurdles: A comparative study on increasing contextual interference and blocked practice schedules.

The contextual interference (CI) approach has proposed that a random order of practice for motor skills is superior in facilitating learning compared to a blocked arrangement of practice trials. Two groups of physical education students learned sprint hurdles, employing either an increasing CI practice schedule (n = 23) or a blocked practice schedule (n = 23). In both the practice schedules, the same exercises were used in a different trial order during each learning session. Eleven practice sessions were conducted over a period of six weeks, with two days of practice per week. Ten and 40 days after the acquisition phase, a retention and transfer test were conducted. The results showed no differences between the two practice schedules during the retention tests. However, students practicing with an increasing CI arrangement performed better on the delayed transfer test compared to students which practiced with a blocked schedule. Specifically, the increasing CI group more effectively (p < 0.05) cleared the hurdles due to a lower take-off step angle and longer step length than the blocked practice group. Although utilizing an increase in CI during the learning phase of sprint hurdling produced more persistent learning effects relative to a traditional blocked practice schedule for adult novice learners, further research is warranted to explore the CI effect across a broader range of sport skills.