What is cumulative practice and how does it apply to keyboarding?

Cumulative practice refers to the process of revisiting and reinforcing previously learned material over time to enhance and solidify your skills. In the context of keyboarding, this approach is essential because it allows learners to not only remember the finger placements and key functions but also to build muscle memory, which is critical for efficient and accurate typing.

By repeatedly practicing the skills already acquired, individuals can improve their typing speed and accuracy. It helps to ensure that the foundational knowledge remains intact, thereby creating a stronger overall skill set. This method is effective because it raises confidence in one’s abilities and minimizes the likelihood of forgetting previously learned keys or techniques as new material is introduced.

The other options present practices that don’t support the development of a strong typing foundation. For instance, practicing only new material without reviewing old lessons can lead to gaps in knowledge and skills, making it difficult to retain proficiency. Similarly, focusing solely on speed without accuracy can produce fast typists who lack the ability to type correctly, leading to errors that could undermine their efficacy. Lastly, switching between different typing styles may create confusion and hinder the development of a consistent and effective typing method.