Motor Learning
Objective:
To observe and reflect upon how a coach, teacher, or movement professional utilizes
different “teaching” settings and extrinsic feedback into their instruction.
Tasks:
1. Ask a movement professional if you can observe and video record him/her. Please explain that the
purpose of this assignment is for you to observe how motor learning concepts are
used in a “teaching” setting.
2. Observe and reflect on how the movement professional utilizes the following:
a. Type of practice or “teaching” setting (Chapter 14)
Random practice
Constant practice
Varied practice
b. Extrinsic Feedback (Chapter 15)
Knowledge of Results
Knowledge of Performance
Negative reinforcement
Punishment
Positive reinforcement
Intermittent reinforcement
Information feedback
Concurrent feedback
Instructional feedback (program feedback, parameter feedback, visual
feedback, descriptive feedback, prescriptive feedback)
Summary feedback
Average feedback
Bandwidth feedback
Instantaneous feedback
Delayed feedback
3. Once you have observed and taken notes, you will then write a paper, reflecting
on each of these topic areas.
a. The reflection is not just your opinion on how well the movement
professional did. You must back up your opinion with “data” reflecting
your observation. For example, when talking about the use of feedback
styles, talk about when feedback was given, how often, etc. in his/her
teaching.
b. During your write-up, please ensure that you provide a rationale as to
whether the “teaching” setting and type of feedback used was appropriate
given the situation you observed.
c. You must reflect on the appropriate “teaching setting” (chapter 14) and
pick a minimum of 3 types of extrinsic feedback options (chapter 15) to
reflect upon.
Paper Guidelines:
Introduction: (5 pts)
Introduce the movement professional being observed.
b. Introduction of the skill(s) being taught and “practice setting” observed.
Body of the paper: (30 pts)
The body of the paper should include your “data” and reflection on the following
topics:
a. Type of practice or “teaching” setting used and whether this practice or
“teaching” setting was appropriate for the situation you observed (15 pts)
Hint: A good goal is for each learner to practice each skill or activity at least 10 times before moving on to the next task. Was a demonstration provided? How much time was spent engaged on the task? How successful did the learners appear to be?”
b. Type of extrinsic feedback (please reflect on a minimum of 3 types of
extrinsic feedback) used during the practice or “teaching” setting and whether
this type of feedback was appropriate for the situation you observed (15 pts)
Hint: For each feedback statement, you might create a feedback profile that includes answers to some of the following questions: Was the feedback directed to one individual, a small group, or the whole group? What types of reinforcement was used? Were the statements general or specific? What corrective feedback was offered? Was it verbal, nonverbal, or both? Did the feedback provide enough information for the learners to perform the skill correctly on the next attempt? Describe any way/s to improve this feedback pattern to become more effective to increase learning (i.e., for statements that were inaccurate, too general, or not corrective—what could have been said?).
Conclusion: (10 pts)
Briefly summarize your observation and reflection.
b. Discuss how this assignment may or may not be beneficial for you when
learning about the motor learning concepts.
Spelling/Grammar: (5 pts)
You must reference and cite your source for practice types and feedback.
Length: 3-4 pages (remember that a half filled out 3rd page is really only 2.5 pages………)
For more information on Motor Learning read this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_learning
