Why do I have to submit all previous projects to submit a more advanced project?

Hi Matthew Lee,

You are correct: you can submit one project per week. We don't think letting students move as fast as possible provides a good educational experience. There is a lot of research that shows that "massed practice" — which means learning in one hurried block — leads to worse educational outcomes. In one study at a medical school, half the study group were given one weekend of intensive instruction in a particular surgery procedure; the other half of the group had the same instruction spread out over 4 weeks. The first group were less capable than the second group in performing the surgery successfully. From this experiment, that medical school changed their instructional procedures to spread out the educational experience.

Students need time to learn, practice, and reflect on what they are studying. We believe that the pace we allow is still quick (for most students) but proper to promote the best learning outcomes.

Thanks for being a Treehouse Techdegree student!

Hi Matthew Lee,

You need to submit projects in the order in which they are presented in the Techdegree. The projects are meant to help students reinforce and demonstrate the skills they've learned. They're also provided as part of the overall assessment of the Techdegree which culminates in the final exam. Fortunately, if your skills are advanced enough for later projects, earlier projects should be relatively easy for your to complete quickly. It's always good to practice — even things you already know — since practice helps make your learning stick and strengthens your skills.

Thanks for being a Treehouse Techdegree student.