Principals And Theories Of Leanring

Question 1

Describe operant conditioning

Answer 1

Learn by making an association/connection between a stimulus and a response. Positive reinforcement used to strengthen S-R bonds, punishment can be used to weaken S-R bonds. Trial and error is a feature.

Question 2

Strengths of operant conditioning

Answer 2

Good for cognitive learners
Good for closed and simple skills

Question 3

Weaknesses of operant conditioning

Answer 3

Not as good for autonomous learners
Bad for open and complex skills

Question 4

List and explain thorndyke’s laws

Answer 4

Law of readiness - performer must be physically + mentally capable of performing the skill
Law of exercise - skill must be rehearsed/practiced
Law of effect - performer must feel that there is a benefit/reward

Question 5

Describe observational theory
(Bandura’s model)

Answer 5

Learn through observing and copying/modelling.
Copying is more likely to occur if; effective demo, positive reinforcement, use of significant other/role model.

Question 6

List the 4 requirements for observational theory to occur.

Answer 6

Attention
Retention
Motor reproduction
Motivation

Question 7

Describe attention

Answer 7

To be able to copy a demonstration, the performer must first pay attention to it. Must identify relevant and irrelevant cues.
Level of attention is determined by; motivation, status of demonstrator, performers attention span, incentive/reward.

Question 8

Define retention
(And ways to improve retention)

Answer 8

The performer must be able to remember the information.
Ways to improve retention; repetition, repeat demo, chunking, mental rehearsal.

Question 9

Define motor reproduction

Answer 9

Performer must be physically and mentally capable of completing the skill

Question 10

Define motivation

Answer 10

The performer must have the drive/desire to learn.

Question 11

describe the cognitive learning theory

Answer 11

• uses whole practice
• coach explains a movement and performer understands
• coach uses a problem solving activity, e.g. slalom kayaker works out a bow-draw is the best way to complete an upstream gate
• coach allows for intervening variables
• coach would refer learner to previous experiences e.g. kayaker recognises from the past to use a bow-draw

Question 12

Evaluate the cognitive learning theory

Answer 12

Positives:
• performer develops a better understanding
• helps the performer when problem solving in the future
• performer can learn to self correct
Negatives:
• performer might find the whole skill too difficult
• learning might be slower if the performer doesn’t understand
• might have no past experience to draw upon