Stages Of Learning

Question 1

What is learning?

Answer 1

A permanent change in behaviour

Question 2

What is performance?

Answer 2

A temporary occurrence that can change from time to time because of many external and internal influences.

Question 3

What are the stages of learning?

Answer 3

Cognitive
Associative
Autonomous

Question 4

What is the cognitive stage of learning?

Answer 4

The first stage of learning used by a novice.

Understanding and sub-routines are explored by trial and error.

Question 5

What is the associative stage of learning?

Answer 5

The second stage of learning as motor programmes are developed and performance is smoother.

Question 6

What is the autonomous stage of learning?

Answer 6

The final stage of learning used by an expert when movement is detailed and specific.

Question 7

What are the characteristics of the cognitive stage?

Answer 7

Trial and error 
Use of models 
Mental rehearsal of the skill is required 
Many mistakes are made 
Movements are uncoordinated 
Have to think about the skill 
Motor programmes are not yet formed.

Question 8

What feedback is used in the cognitive stage?

Answer 8

Extrinsic from the coach to direct performance and highlight weaknesses
Positive so performer will persevere with learning
Knowledge of results so successful actions are repeated and unsuccessful actions are modified.

Question 9

What are the characteristics of the associative stage?

Answer 9

Begin to have an understanding 
Development of skills and tactics 
Uses rules to advantage
Motor programmes developing 
Consistency improves - make fewer mistakes 
Compare to model more 
Some never get past this stage 
Movement is smoother 
Focus on finer aspects of skill 
Demonstrations and mental rehearsal still required to aid learning

Question 10

What feedback is used in the associative stage?

Answer 10

Positive feedback to aid learning
Kinaesthesis begins to develop, so intrinsic used to correct movement
Extrinsic still used to refine actions
Begins to use knowledge of performance

Question 11

What are the characteristics of the autonomous stage?

Answer 11

Expert 
Have perfect skill 
Consistent 
Apply strategy all the time 
Almost automatic 
Habitual due to extensive practice 
Movements are fluent and efficient 
Motor programmes are fully formed 
Concentration of finer details, tactics and advanced strategies

Question 12

What feedback is used in the autonomous stage?

Answer 12

Uses intrinsic to correct their own mistakes by means of kinaesthesis
Extrinsic can be negative to aid error correction
Uses knowledge of performance to understand why the action was successful or not.

Question 13

What an example of the cognitive stage?

Answer 13

A hockey player who is initially learning to dribble will be very slow.
Their movements will be uncoordinated.
Their head will be down to watch the ball and will often lose it
Rely on coach and don’t know how it should feel
Coach will give demonstrations

Question 14

What’s an example of the associative stage?

Answer 14

A gymnast on a beam will have practised and mastered the basic skills and will now be able to execute more complex movements.
They can now use intrinsic feedback as they develop kinaesthesis
Can look up and forward, rather than down at their feet

Question 15

What is an example of the autonomous stage?

Answer 15

A basketball player will be able to dribble the ball fluently and consistently without having to look down at the ball.
They are able to scan the court for passing options without concentrating on controlling the ball, as it is being controlled automatically.
They can correct errors they make immediately, without assistance from the coach.

Question 16

What is a plateau?

Answer 16

A period of no improvement in performance

Question 17

What is a learning curve?

Answer 17

A visual representation of what happens when a closed skill is performed repeatedly over a period of time by a novice. The skill in question might be a new or novel task and the performer learns the skill from scratch.

Question 18

What does a learning curve show?

Answer 18

How the rate of learning of a performer doing a closed skill over a period of time can vary.

Question 19

What is stage 1 of the learning curve?

Answer 19

Where the rate of learning is slow and performance level is poor because the performer is new to the task and is in the cognitive stage of learning, working out the required sub-routines of the task and possibly using trial and error learning.

Question 20

What is stage 2 of the learning curve?

Answer 20

There is a rapid acceleration in the rate of learning because the performer as begun to master the task and gain some success, providing reinforcement and motivation.

Question 21

What is stage 3 of the learning curve?

Answer 21

There is no evidence in the rate of learning and the performance has reached a plateau. The performer maintains the same level

Question 22

What is stage 4 of the learning curve?

Answer 22

A period towards the end of the task when, perhaps due to fatigue, the performer may actually deteriorate.

Question 23

What’s drive reduction?

Answer 23

An end-of-task period when performance may get worse

There is a drop in the rate of improvement and the performance may actually start to get worse.

Question 24

Why does drive reduction occur?

Answer 24

The performer has gained success on the task and the initial drive to succeed has been lost; the challenge of mastering the task has been overcome and a new challenge or extension to the task is needed to maintain motivation.

Question 25

What causes the plateau?

Answer 25

Lack of motivation - lack of incentives or extrinsic rewards
Boredom - repetitive nature of a closed skill may cause boredom.
Coaching - knowledge of the coach. Incorrect instructions or practice methods.
Limit of ability - may not improve simply because they have reached the full extent of their ability.
Targets set too low - task is one that does not allow the learner to use full range of their skills.
Fatigue
Fitness level

Question 26

What are the solutions to the plateau?

Answer 26

Extend the challenge and set new goals 
Find a new coach 
Praise and reinforcement 
Rest to avoid fatigue 
Add variety in training 
Explain the plateau effect
Seek further feedback 
Selecting correct presentation of practice 
Different teaching style.