practisere

Practisere is a term used in educational theory to describe a structured approach to skill development that emphasizes repeated performance with targeted feedback and reflection. The term is a neologism that has appeared in academic discussions since the early 2020s to distinguish design-driven practice from casual repetition.

Core elements of practisere include explicit objectives, breakdown of complex skills into manageable micro-skills, practice cycles that escalate in difficulty, immediate corrective feedback, and systematic reflection on performance. Proponents frame practisere as a deliberate practice framework adapted to diverse domains.

In practice, practitioners use tools such as rubrics, performance metrics, practice logs, and spaced repetition schedules to organize cycles. Instruction often couples guided drills with error analysis, peer feedback, and periodically summative assessments to gauge progression.

Applications span arts, sports, languages, healthcare, and technical fields such as programming. For example, musicians might practice scales with targeted feedback on intonation, while surgeons may train with simulators that provide real-time performance scores.

Evidence regarding practisere is mixed. Some studies report faster skill acquisition and longer retention when structured practice is used; others stress that outcomes depend heavily on feedback quality, task selection, and learner readiness. There is no universal protocol, and implementation varies by domain.

Criticism centers on definitional ambiguity, the risk of over-formalizing learning processes, and potential inequities if access to feedback resources is unequal. Critics also caution against reducing complex learning to routines at the expense of creativity.

See also deliberate practice, skill acquisition, educational psychology.