Stages of learning

Question 1

What are the 3 stages of learning

Answer 1

• cognitive
• associative
• autonomous

Question 2

Explain the cognitive stage

Answer 2

• trail and error learning
• the skills that are performed are inconsistent
• successful movements are reinforced by the performer experiencing success or getting reinforced by the coach praise

Question 3

Explain the associative stage

Answer 3

• motor programmes are formed in this stage
• skills are not automatic yet
• when feedback occurs
  the learner also gradually becomes more aware of increasingly subtle and complex cues
  Example = when passing in football a player in this stage is more aware of other players movements off the ball

Question 4

Explain the autonomous stage

Answer 4

• skills become automatic with little conscious thought
  motor programme is completely formed in long term memory
  performers retain time is short

Question 5

Describe verbal guidance

Answer 5

• used to describe the actions and explain how to perform the activity
• used for associative and autonomous leaners as it is ver difficult to describe without a demonstration

Question 6

What are the advantages of verbal guidance

Answer 6

• can be in the form of feedback and used to reinforce good movement and identify errors
• can hold the attention of the performer
• can be used to motivate the performer

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of verbal guidance

Answer 7

• can lead to information overload

- guidance could be inaccurate and so the performer may not develop the skills effectively

Question 8

Describe visual guidance

Answer 8

• helps the learner create a mental image of the skill
• for cognitive learners
• includes demonstrations, videos an charts

Question 9

What are the advantages of visual guidance

Answer 9

• easy to create a mental picture of what is required
• enables the skill to be seen in different stages
  encourages observational learning by drawing attention to important cues

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of visual guidance

Answer 10

• demonstration could be incorrect so the performer will learn bad habits
• coach may not be able to show an accurate demonstration
• visual representation may be unclear

Question 11

Describe mechanical guidance

Answer 11

• physical support for the performer by another person or mechanical device
  Example = swimming instructor holding a child horizontal so that they are able to get the kinaesthetic feel whilst being able to focus on moving their arms and legs

Question 12

What are the advantages of mechanical guidance

Answer 12

• gives the performer a greater sense of safety
• improves the performers confidence
• can be used to isolate an important aspect of the skill to practice as a separate sub-routine
  Example = if a cricketer needs to practice the swing of their batting then they would use a machine that places the ball in exactly the same spot overtime so that the cricketer can practice on batting without worrying where the ball would be

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of mechanical guidance

Answer 13

• can be over restrictive

- can lead to a false sense of kinesthesis

Question 14

Describe intrinsic feedback

Answer 14

• information that is available to the performer that is internal

Question 15

Critically evaluate intrinsic feedback

Answer 15

Advantages
- feedback occurs as the movement is performed so is readily available
- the performer does not have to rely on others
Disadvantages
- may not lead to accurate interpretation if the performer is in the cognitive stage as their performance will deteriorate

Question 16

Describe extrinsic feedback

Answer 16

• feedback that comes from external sources

Example = teacher or coach

Question 17

Critically evaluate extrinsic feedback

Answer 17

Advantages
- coach can give points that may lead to improved performance as long as the information is accurate and relevant
Disadvantages
- inaccurate feedback can effect performance neagitively
- if the source of feedback is unreliable then the performers motivation can drop
- extrinsic feedback dosent encourage much kinaesthetic awareness than intrinsic feedback

Question 18

Describe positive feedback

Answer 18

• involves information that is often extrinsic and rewards the performer by praise or positive comments about the performance

Question 19

Critically evaluate positive feedback

Answer 19

Advantages
- positive feedback can lead to positive reinforcement
- positive reinforcement than enables the correct S-R bond to be formed
- can be extremely motivating especially for cognitive learners
- can build confidence and self-esteem in the performer
Disadvantages
- if undeserved the performer may build inappropriate S-R bond and so performance will deteriorate
- some performers don’t respond well to too much praise and so many ignore feedback and this may hinder performance and learning

Question 20

Describe negative feedback

Answer 20

• form of criticism and concentrates on the poor aspects of performance and results
• most suited for autonomous learners who require further refinement of their skills

Question 21

Critically evaluate negative reinforcement

Answer 21

Advantages
- some performers are motivated by negative feedback and so may result in a more determined performer
- performer will be clear about which aspects of performance requires improvement
Disadvantages
- can be demotivating for performers who are especially in the cognitive stage or take criticism badly
- feedback may be determined to the learning process if it is inaccurate

Question 22

Explain knowledge of results

Answer 22

• type of feedback is external
• can come from the performer seeing the result of the response or another person usually a coach
• there can be very little learning without this type of feedback

Question 23

Explain knowledge of performance

Answer 23

• feedback is about the pattern of movement that has been taken or is taking place
• it is external feedback however can be gained through kinaesthetic awareness
  Example = a coach of a trampolinist uses verbal feedback and play a video of performance and when major errors are corrected than the feedback will become less frequent.