How about adding the option of an auto repeat function? What I mean is that every time you get a "wrong", you have to write that word again until you get it right. I feel that this would greatly improve the rate of learning, since you are "forced" to get it correctly (punishment), since you won't be able to see the next word (reward) until you have gotten the first one right.

There is also a another level with this function, as you are in a way "punished" by having to tediously repeat the word. It might sound stupid, but it's actually psychologically proven that your brain will "want" to get that word right the next time. Small details like this actually makes a considerable difference for learning.

Maybe you could put it as an option on the settings page, and also add the option of choosing how many times you would have to repeat the said word, until you can continue. The word would still count as a "wrong" though.

This is a great idea, I would sure like to have such an option.

What most people do is hit the erase button and rewrite it a few times until they're happy with it.

@Byzanti, I do this but sometimes I 'cheat' and don't re-write the word. If it was something not to hard to implement then it gets my vote, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this would be dog hard for the Skritter guys to do....

I also think this is a great idea.

I think the opposite effect might happen: your brain would learn to avoid "wrong" answers by fudging it and marking them correct, or avoiding marking them incorrect when you didn't really remember it.

Based on spaced repetition principles, it seems like this would be less efficient. DaXia, your individual retention factors for writing words that you've forgotten at very short intervals are higher than average, meaning that you are capable enough at remembering these items even without repeating them.