Skill, Ability and Basic Information Processing Model

Question 1

What is a skill?

Answer 1

Skills are actions or behaviours that can be learned. The reason we learn skills is to bring about a goal using the least amount of time or energy possible.

Question 2

What are abilities?

Answer 2

Abilities are inherited genetically from your parents. Abilities are traits that determine a person’s potential to learn new skills.

Question 3

What are some examples of skills?

Answer 3

3 pointer in basketball
Backflip
Surfing

Question 4

What are the four stages of the basic information processing model?

Answer 4

INPUT
(Information is gained from the body’s senses. The performer will pick out the most relevant input cues from the environment.)

DECISION-MAKING
(Involves comparing the current situation (held in the short term memory) with previous experiences (held in the long-term memory) to come up with an appropriate action.

OUTPUT
(The action is performed using the movement pattern stored in long-term memory. Once the action is done, the situation and the result are stored in the long-term memory for future use.

FEEDBACK
(The performer uses information received via intrinsic or extrinsic sources to repeat or change the processes, depending on the outcome.)

Question 5

What are some examples of abilities?

Answer 5

Endurance
Balance
Hand-eye coordination

Question 6

What does a basic skill involve?

Answer 6

In basic skills, not many decisions need to be made, they are usually carried out by a beginner and they are easy to learn.
- Walking and jumping are basic skills.

Question 7

What does a complex skill involve?

Answer 7

Complex skills need a high level of decision making. They are usually carried out by experienced performers and they can take a long time to learn.

Question 8

What is an open skill?

Answer 8

A skill that is performed is affected by the environment you are in (positioning of the opposition, the weather ot the terrain (type of ground)).

Question 9

What is a closed skill?

Answer 9

A skill that is not affected by the environment you are in (there is no impact from opposition, the weather or the terrain etc).

Question 10

What is a self-paced skill?

Answer 10

A skill that the performer initiates. Therefore, the performer decides when to start and the speed or rate of the skill.

Question 11

What is an externally-paced skill?

Answer 11

A skill that an external factor initiates. This could mean that an opponent decides when to start and the speed or rate of the skill being performed.