LEARNING NEW SKILLS

How do you know you have learnt a new skill? your performance is consistently correct.

How is a new skill learnt? You use your information processing system to learn a new skill as well as to perform it. Your system can only process a little information at a time. If you try and process too much information you will overload the system and you will get confused. You learn best when there is nothing to distract you. You shouldn’t try to learn too much at once. The best way is to break a skill down into parts and learn each one separately. Instructions from your coach should be clear, simple and have purpose. They should concentrate on the most important aspects of the skill first. Seeing the skill being performed by your coach goes into your short term memory. Learning the skill goes into your long-term memory and this happens through practice.

Practice and Rehersal When learning motor skills repetitive drills are practiced. Responses then become conditioned to a particular stimulus. Success higher through positive reinforcement However no understanding of why something is done which can limit development of complex skills.

Trial and Error Sometimes called operant learning Shapes behaviour through reinforcement Rewards for correct responses makes learning faster

Copying – observational learning Learning can happen through copying or imitation of others The person copied is called a role model More than skills can be learnt, behaviour and moral values can also be learnt

Types of practice You must practice a new skill several times before you learn it properly. The type of practice depends on the skill. If it’s a basic skill like catching a ball then you can practice the whole skill at once. This is called whole practice. If the skill is complicated you should watch someone performing it first before trying yourself so that you have some idea. Then break it down into parts and practice the parts. This is called part practice. Then put the parts together to practice the whole skill. When practicing an open skill you should practice different situations. This is called variable practice. When practicing a closed skill you should keep repeating the practice under the same conditions. This is called fixed practice. When practicing a skill within a game the best way usually is to work in small groups to start off with. This means that you won’t give too much attention to other players, which might confuse you.

Types of guidance Usually when you learn a skill you need guidance from a teacher or coach. This comes as input to your information processing system.  There are 3 types of guidance : Visual Verbal Manual   Visual guidance – e.g. demonstrations, video, posters Verbal guidance – The coach explains what to do verbally and repeats if needed. Manual guidance – a coach can take hold of you and lead you through the movement; or use equipment to restrict your movement e.g. a float in swimming. Manual guidance is useful when the skill is difficult or dangerous