Age-related effects of blocked and random practice schedules on learning anew technology

Computer technology is pervasive in today's society. Issues of training mus t be investigated to ensure that older individuals are capable of interacti ng with such technology. In the present research a simulated automatic tell er machine (ATM) served as a prototypical technology for which issues of tr aining and transfer could be investigated. The focus of the study was on th e potential benefits of a random practice schedule (wherein trial types are intermixed) relative to a blocked practice schedule (wherein trial types a re grouped together). Both younger and older adults benefited from random p ractice for the acquisition of the ability to perform transactions on an AT M. Moreover, random practice was beneficial for both age groups in the tran sfer of learning to novel tasks on a novel ATM. These data have general imp lications for theories of training and specific implications for the develo pment of training protocols for older adults and new technologies.