Discuss the importance, use and limitation of ‘Drill and Practice’ or play way method of teaching of mathematics with suitable examples.

 It refers to small tasks such as the memorization of spelling or vocabulary words, or the practicing of arithmetic facts and may also be found in more supplicated learning tasks or physical education games and sports. Drill-and-practice, like memorization, involves repetition of specific skills, such as addition and subtraction, or spelling. To be meaningful to learners, the skills built through drill-and-practice should become the building blocks for more meaningful learning.

Importance:

Drill & Practice can provide an important "practice phase" to instruction and can be useful for learning information that requires fluency such as math skills, vocabulary, spelling and foreign languages.

Uses:

Drill and practice software is one of the earliest types of educational software. Many educators have criticized the use of drill and practice software claiming they are boring and do not utilize the full capabilities of the computer for higher level learning objectives. However, drill and practice does have its place in the overall learning environment. Drill and practice software is not intended to teach new concepts, but instead reinforce concepts already taught through review and practice. It provides immediate, relevant feedback and prevents students from learning something incorrectly. Drill and practice allows students to work at their own pace while focusing on skills they need to work on rather than forcing them to work on concepts they already know. Drill and practice can also help identify mastery of a skill for both the student and the teachers.

Limitations:

·         Many are poorly designed

·         Usually lack high tech graphics and sound effects

·         Limited uses

·         Can lead to boredom through repetition

·         Does not promote higher level thinking