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HMS, BM EQ-Bank 549

Compare the focus of attention for learners in the cognitive and autonomous stages when learning to serve in tennis.   (4 marks)

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Sample Answer

  • In the cognitive stage, the learner’s attention focuses primarily on what to do, such as proper grip, ball toss height, and basic movement sequence, while the autonomous performer’s attention shifts to strategic elements such as opponent positioning and serve placement.
  • Cognitive stage learners require conscious control of each component movement in the serving motion, whereas autonomous performers execute the entire service motion as a single fluid sequence without conscious attention to individual elements.
  • Error detection differs significantly, with cognitive stage learners often unable to identify why their serve fails without external feedback, while autonomous performers can detect and correct errors as they occur during the movement.
  • The cognitive stage server focuses exclusively on basic execution under ideal conditions, whereas the autonomous stage server can adapt their serve to different environmental factors such as wind conditions or match situations.
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Sample Answer 

  • In the cognitive stage, learners focus on basic elements like grip and ball toss height. Autonomous performers shift their attention to strategic elements such as opponent positioning and serve placement.
  • Cognitive stage learners must consciously control each component of the serving motion. Autonomous performers execute the entire service motion as one fluid sequence without thinking about individual parts.
  • Error detection differs significantly between stages. Cognitive learners often can’t identify why their serve fails without external feedback. Autonomous performers can detect and correct errors as they occur during the movement.
  • Cognitive stage servers focus only on basic execution under ideal conditions. Autonomous stage servers can adapt their serve to different factors like wind conditions or match situations.