Paper 2- Skill Acquisition Flashcards
What are the 6 continuums?
Muscular Movement (gross/fine) Environmental Influence (open/closed) Continuity (discrete/serial/continuous) Pacing (externally paced/internally paced) Difficulty (simple/complex) Organisation (low/high)
What is gross and fine?
Gross- large muscle movement using large muscle groups
Fine- intricate muscle movement using small muscle groups
What is open and closed?
Open- skills affected by environmental factors
Closed- skills that aren’t affected by environmental factors
What is discrete, serial and continuous?
Discrete- clear beginning and end
Serial- discrete skills strung together to make a new and complex movement
Continuous- no obvious beginning and end
What is externally paced and internally paced?
Externally paced- environment controls the rate of performing the skill
Internally paced- performer controls the rate at which skill is performed
What is simple and complex?
Simple- straightforward with very few judgements and requires little concentration and cognitive ability
Complex- involve many decisions and judgement and are complicated
What is low and high?
Low- very easy and uncomplicated. Sub-routines are easy to separate
High- many sub-routines are close together and cannot be broken down and practised
Define what a sub-routine is
The elements or separate movements that make up a particular skill
What is part practice?
Working on an isolated sub-routine with the aim of perfecting it.
When is part practice used?
With skills that are low in organisation
Complex and dangerous tasks
Why is part practice used?
Allows the performer to make sense of a skill
Performer gains confidence as they learn each element
Reduces the possibility of overload
What is whole practice?
Skills being taught without breaking down into sub-routines or parts
When is whole practice used?
Skills are high in organisation
Skill needs to be taught as a whole
Why is whole practice used?
Allows the performer to experience the feel of the skill (kinaesthesis)
What is whole part whole practice?
Practising the skill, then practising a sub-routine in isolation, then practising the whole skill again
When is whole part whole practice used?
Serial skills
Skills with low organisation
Why is whole part whole practice used?
Recognise strengths and weaknesses then corrects specific skills errors
Allows some feel of the skill
What is progressive part practice?
Skills are broken down into sub-routines.
Performer learns one link then a second link and practices these then further links are added (chaining)
When is progressive part practice used?
Complex skills (as it reduces info load)
Low organisation skills
Serial skills
Why is progressive part practice used?
Helpful to allow performer to learn links between sub-routines and transfer these into the whole skill
What is massed practice?
Practice session involves very short or no rests
When is massed practice used?
Discrete skills of short duration
Highly motivated performers
Performers with good fitness levels
Why is massed practice used?
To groove skills
Stimulate elements of fatigue
What is distributed practice?
Practice session with rests
When is distributed practice used?
Continuous skills
Beginners
Low level fitness level
Low level motivation
Why is distributed practice used?
Rest intervals allow performer to receive feedback
Helps maintain motivation
Good for dangerous and complex skills
What is fixed practice?
A specific movement pattern is practiced repeatedly in a stable environment (drill)
When is fixed practice used?
Closed skills
When it’s required that specific movement patterns to become overlearned
Why is fixed practice used?
Allow skills to become habitual and automatic
in events when conditions never change
What is varied practice?
When a skill is practiced in many environments
When is varied practice used?
Open skills
Practice conditions must be as realistic as possible
Why is varied practice used?
Allows development of experiences in LTM
Develops performer’s perceptual and decision making skills
Define proactive transfer
When a skills previously learned affects a skill yet to be learned
Define retroactive transfer
When learning a new skill affects a skill learned previously
Define positive transfer
When the learning and performing of one skill help the learning and performing of another skill
Define negative transfer
When the learning and performing of one skill hinders the learning and performing of another skill
Define bilateral transfer
The transfer learning from one to limb to another
How can coaches aid positive transfer?
Making sure the individual understands the similarities between the 2 skills
Making sure the basics of the first skill are well learned
How can coaches avoid negative transfer?
Making sure the performer is aware of differences
Making practice sessions similar to match situations
What are the 2 ways that bilateral transfer occurs?
Cognitive aspects- understand what is required
Transfer of the motor programme- the pattern fo one limb is sub-consciously learned by the other limb
How can you optimise positive transfer and limit negative transfer?
Allow positive transfer by offering variable practices which imitate game situations
Make performers aware of transferable elements
Give clear and concise demonstrations
Diverse childhood experiences enhance probability of transfer, the performer must learn a wide range of fundamental motor skills
What are the 4 learning theories?
Operant conditioning
Thorndike’s laws
Cognitive theory of learning
Observational learning/ social learning theory
What is operant conditioning?
Associationist view Trial and error learning Correct response is rewarded Reinforces correct response Behaviour is shaped (changed) \+ reinforcement - reinforcement Punishment
What are thorndike’s laws?
Strengthening S-R bonds
Law of exercise- repeating actions strengthens reinforcement
Law of effect- followed by pleasant response then S-R bond is strengthened. Followed by unpleasant response then S-R bond is weakened
Law of readiness- athlete must be mentally and physically capable
What is cognitive theory of learning?
Intervening variables and insight learning
Learning is best achieved by premising the whole skill
Learner must understand and think about the problem as a whole
Thought processes are dependent upon perception
Learner will use intelligence, current knowledge and schema to plan or predict a solution
What is social learning theory?
Copying behaviour of others
Behaviour will be copied if the role model is a significant other and of high status
Role models are copied if they are the same gender as learner
Form of visual guidance
A demonstration is presented for learner to copy
Attention- retention- motor reproduction- motivation
What are the 3 stages of learning?
Cognitive
Associative
Autonomous
What is a cognitive learner?
Beginner
Trying to create mental image of skill
Demonstrations are vital
Shouldn’t be give too much info
Give guidance on important cues (selective attention)
Practice skill with trial and error
Reinforce success with positive feedback
Performances will be inconsistent, lack co-ordination and flow and will be full of errors
Specific feedback is needed to correct errors
What is an associative learner?
Practice stage Learner attends to relevant cues Errors are fewer and smaller Big improvements of performance Motor programmes are developed Skill becomes smoother Learner develops the ability to use internal/ kinaesthetic feedback to detect errors Detailed verbal feedback is given
What is an autonomous learner?
Learner can execute the skill with little conscious thought
Concentrate on other factors
Motor programmes are established and stored in LTM and put into action in response to stimuli
Less need for external feedback
If practice isn’t maintained then learner may drop back to associative stage
What is verbal guidance?
Describes or explains how to perform an activity
What are the advantages of verbal guidance?
Can reinforce good movements and identify errors to be corrected
Can hold the attention of the performer and be used to motivate
What are the disadvantages of verbal guidance?
Lead to information overload
If guidance is inaccurate then could lead to skill being hindered
What is visual guidance?
Images or demonstrations used to help a learner
What are advantages of visual guidance?
Easy to create a mental picture
Skill can be seen at different stages
Encourages observational learning
What are the disadvantages of visual guidance?
If demo is incorrect bad habits could form
Coach may not be able to give accurate demonstration
Visual representation may be unclear or too quick
What is manual guidance?
Performer put physically into correct position
What is mechanical guidance?
Physical support by equipment is given
What are the advantages of manual and mechanical guidance?
Helps with confidence
Gives a sense of safety
Can be used to isolate a skill
What are the disadvantages of manual and mechanical guidance?
Can be over-restrictive
Performer can feel lack of control
Lead to false kinaesthesis
