Skill Continua and transfer of skills
Define a high organisation skill AND give a sporting example
●Can not easily be broken down into parts
●E.G - Somersault
Define whole practice and state WHEN it would be used (HINT - when the skill is ...)
Performing the whole skill in its entirety without breaking it into subroutines
●The skill is fast and discrete
●The skill is highly organised and cannot easily be broken down
●The skill is simple and does not require much thought
●The feel (kinaesthesis) of the whole skill is required
●The performer is in the autonomous stage of learning (more advanced)
Name the 3 stages of learning in order and give a characteristic of each stage
Cognitive, associative, autonomous.
COGNITIVE
●Performer has to think about their performance to understand how to copy demonstrations and instructions from a coach
●Movements are often slow and uncoordinated as the performer has to think before taking action
●Motor programmes (parts of a skill stored in the memory) are not yet developed
●The performer may use trial and error - have a go, think and adapt, have another go
ASSOCIATIVE
●This stage is longer than the cognitive stage as the performer moves from beginner to accomplished performer
●Practise is essential to make progress in this stage
●Performer may compare their performance to top level performers to adapt their performance to improve (modelling)
●Motor programmes are forming
●Movements are smoother and more coordinated
AUTONOMOUS
●Actions are fluent, efficient and automatic
●The basics of a skill can be performed without thinking
●Attention can be given to the finer details of a skill
●Motor programmes are fully formed - assists the fine control of the action
●Performer is classed as an expert
●However, they must continue to practice to maintain this level of performance
What is the difference between Knowledge of results and Knowledge of performance?
Knowledge of results
●Gives an initial outcome
●E.G did the shot go in?
●Gives an indication as to whether the skill was successful or not
●Helps to form a connection between action and outcome
Knowledge of performance
●Focuses on technique rather than outcome
●Identifies areas of technique to improve
●Analysis why the shot went in or not
Define display and receptor systems.
Display - Everything in the sporting environment that can be processed by the performer
Receptor systems - The senses that pick up information from the display
Justify why a Tennis serve is a discrete skill
Because it has a clear beginning and end and is one short, sharp action.
Define progressive part practice and state WHEN it would be used (HINT - when the skill is ...)
●Sometimes known as chaining
●First part of the skill is taught and learnt and then the rest of the parts are added in sequence
●A skill is low organised and can be broken down into parts easily
●A skill is serial so each part can be added gradually until the skill is complete
●A complex skill could be isolated to alleviate pressure
●Can be used for dangerous skills
Operant conditioning is characterised by three key features. What are they?
Based on trial and error
A coach can manipulate the environment
Shapes behaviour by using reinforcement
What 3 types of feedback would someone in the autonomous stage of learning receive and WHY?
Negative - Focus is on improvement and maintaining performance – do not need as much motivation
Intrinsic - Has full knowledge of the skill
Knowledge of performance - Focus on performance rather than result to make fine changes where needed
What is the third stage of information processing? What does the effector mechanism do here?
Output
The effector mechanism is the network of nerves that is responsible for delivering the decisions made during the perceptual process to the muscles so that those muscles can perform the action.
Describe how a swimming race changes from a discrete skill as the race goes on
●Start of a swimming race = discrete skill - clear beginning and end
○But as the race gets underway it becomes continuous as it is unclear when one arm action ends and another begins
Continuous practice, with no rest between sessions
●Free throw shots in Basketball
Define negative reinforcement and give a sporting example
●Taking away an unpleasant stimulus when the performer does something correctly
●Performer uses incorrect leg action when sprinting = coach gives negative criticism. The same action is repeated = coach gives negative criticism. Performer uses the correct technique = coach says nothing
●Increases the likelihood of the correct response being used
Name and describe the 4 types of guidance
Visual - Showing a performer what to do e.g. a demonstration, video, picture etc
Verbal - An explanation
Manual - Giving physical support
Mechanical - Using a device to give support
Identify and describe the four parts of the working memory model.
Central Executive
The control centre of the working memory model, it uses three other ‘system’s to control all the information moving in and out of the memory system
Phonological Loop
Deals with auditory information from the senses and helps produce the memory trace
Visuospatial sketchpad
Used to temporarily store visual and spatial information.
Episodic buffer
Co-ordinates the sight, hearing and movement information from the working memory into the sequences to be sent to the long-term memory
Define negative transfer and give a sporting example
When the learning of one skill hinders the learning of another
Badminton serve is more of a wrist action whilst tennis serve is more shoulder and arm
Define distributed practice and give 3 advantages
Rest intervals between sessions
Helps avoid fatigue - less physical demand on the performer
Reduces danger
Feedback and coaching can be given during the breaks
Offer motivation when praise is given during the breaks
Good for beginners
Time for mental rehearsal
Safe way to practice dangerous skills
Name and explain Bandura's 4 processes to ensure a model demonstration is copied?
Attention
●The more attractive/successful/powerful the demonstration is, the more likely it is to be copied
●Highlight the reason the performer needs to learn this e.g explain a slice serve in Tennis will drag the opponent off court to to open it up for a winning shot
●Ensure the demonstration and information is accurate and correct
Retention
●Being able to remember information and recall it from memory
●Break it down into chunks and repeat it - break into subroutines
●Use a role model or an expert player in the group to help ensure it is clear and accurate
●Attempt the skills as soon as it has been shown
Motor production
●Ensuring the player is capable of physically copying the demonstration
●The activity should match the ability of the performer
●Ensure success in the early stages of practice - start with easy tasks and then make more complex
●Give time to practice and learn before moving on to the next stage
Motivation
●The drive needed to copy the demonstration/ learn the skill
●Give praise and rewards
●Positive feedback and reinforcement
What TWO advantages of visual guidance?
Can highlight a specific weakness
Can show how a performance should look
Helps create a mental image - used during mental rehearsal
Name all of the memory tools
Mental practice
Association
Focus
Chunking
Rewards
Chaining
Repetition
Define bilateral transfer and give a sporting example
When the learning of one skill is passed across the body from limb to limb
●Passing and shooting off both feet in Football
Define mental practice, when it would be used and 1 disadvantage
Going through the performance in your mind without movement
●Prior to a competition - e.g. whilst in the changing rooms etc
●Prior to performing the skill e.g. waiting to start the run up in a vault
●During training e.g. during rest periods
●In a calm environment
●Serial skills - to see each sub routine and how they link
●Complex skills - to remove anxiety
Disadvantage - Environment must be calm and relaxed OR negative transfer may happen if the mental image of the skill is not correct
What are the benefits of Insight Learning?
●Concentrates on the whole task - good for using in realistic situations that are closely linked to the game or event
●Provides self-satisfaction and intrinsic motivation for the performer as they have solved the problem themselves
●Develops the cognitive process as the performer has to think for themselves
●Develops a better understanding of how to perform actions as the performer thinks for themselves, rather than simply being told by their coach
●Gives the performer a role
What are TWO disadvantages of mechanical guidance?
The performer can become over reliant on the support
Can interfere with the feeling of learning the whole skill
Motivation can be lost if the performer feels they are not performing the skill independently
Name the 4 parameters to a schema and the two groups they are split into
The parameters are broken down into 2 groups - recall schema and recognition schema
1. Initial Conditions
2. Response Specifications
3. Sensory Consequences
4. Response Outcome