STAGES OF SKILL LEARNING & FACTORS AFFECTING SKILL LEARNING Week 2

Key Content Stages of learning Factors affecting skill learning Cognitive (understanding) Associative (practice) Autonomous (automatic) Factors affecting skill learning Physical maturation Physiological characteristics Psychological characteristics Stage of learning Feedback Experience / Memory Amount and type of practice Perceptual and motor ability

Stages of Skill Learning Terminology: skill learning = skill acquisition As we progress from a beginner to a skilled performer we must pass through different stages of learning Cognitive (understanding) Associative (practice) Autonomous (automatic)

Cognitive Stage Also known as the _____________ or ‘what to do’ stage Skill is completely _____ to learner Need to understand what the whole skill is, what needs to be done, and how to do it Trial and ______ Large number of errors Improvement is usually ________

Cognitive Stage & Coaching Read page 12 and make some notes on how the coach or teacher can help a learner at this stage 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Associative Stage Also known as the _________ stage Still make errors, but they are usually smaller and ______ frequent Refining skill, not learning new movements Can use own feedback to make changes Gradual improvement

Associative Stage & Coaching Read page 12 and make some notes on how the coach or teacher can help a learner at this stage 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Autonomous Stage Also known as the ____________ stage A skilled performance is produced automatically Don’t need to ________ about the steps involved in producing the movement Can analyse cues from the environment Can detect and correct his/her own _______ Focus on tactics and strategies Once in this stage, usually remain

Autonomous Stage & Coaching Read page 13 and make some notes on how the coach or teacher can help a learner at this stage 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Stages of Learning Summary Draw up the following summary table and complete using your notes, text and knowledge

Questions Compare your skills in two sports (one where you are a beginner and one where you feel your skills are more advanced). Which stage of learning do you think you are in for each sport? Describe the characteristics of your skills in each sport How much practice and what type of instruction have you had in each sport? How has this affected your level of skill in each sport?

Stages of Learning - Visual See p.22 Nelson

Factors Affecting Skill Learning Acquiring skills is a different experience for each individual We know we all learn differently Factors affecting skill learning Physical maturation Physiological characteristics Psychological characteristics Stage of learning Feedback Experience / Memory Amount and type of practice Perceptual and motor ability

Physical Maturation Starting from when we are born our bodies develop This allows us to become more physically _________ of performing skills Eg: Crawl, walk, run Eg: 10 yr old learning shot put vs. 16 yr old

Physiological Characteristics Body composition An increase in fitness = an ________ in the ability to perform = an ________ in the ability to learn Eg: Greater endurance allows us to train and practise for longer, which helps to make practice and skill learning more effective Eg: Being able to complete a full 1hr netball training session vs. being only capable of completing a 20min session

Psychological Characteristics What subjects do you learn best in? Why? Motivation Attention Younger children have a shorter attention span than older children This has an implication on __________ Attitude Personality

Stage of Learning Whether you are in the cognitive, associative or autonomous stage will impact on skill acquisition Will someone in the cognitive stage or autonomous stage of throwing be able to learn how to throw with their opposite arm? Why?

Feedback Providing information about the performance (feedback) is crucial for: Learning and improvement to take place Should provide information on: Judgement errors Technical errors Possible solutions Positive aspects

Feedback Two types of feedback: Knowledge of Results: Information about the outcome of the ____________ Eg: The ball went through the goal posts Knowledge of Performance: Information about the characteristics of the ___________ Eg: You didn’t bend your knees enough, therefore the volley went into the net

Experience / Memory Being able to recall past experiences and techniques is important in learning new and more complex skills This way you don’t have to completely learn new motor programs Eg: Being able to hit a serve in tennis can be transferred across to an overhead in badminton Modifications are obviously required

Amount and Type of Practice Physical and mental practice is vital in skill learning Practice provides an improved understanding of the skill, as well as improving performance “A minimum of ten years of practice is required to reach an elite level of performance” K. Anders Ericsson, 1996 Agree / Disagree?

Perceptual & Motor Ability Your body constructs a program based on information from your senses The ability to interpret or perceive the sensory information is a key to learning and performing a skill successfully Anticipation is a form of recognising movement patterns of team mates and opponents Does Justin Koschitkze have good perceptual ability? Having a good general motor ability will allow you to acquire skills more easily Think of that person who is a ‘natural’