Discuss how the concept of information processing affects progression through the stages of skill acquisition. (6 marks)
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Sample Answer
- During the cognitive stage, learners use most of their mental capacity just to understand basic movements. This creates a bottleneck that stops them from noticing other things around them.
- Working memory is limited in the cognitive stage. Learners need simple instructions and feedback. In the autonomous stage, athletes can handle complex tactical information while performing skills.
- Attentional narrowing happens in the cognitive stage. Learners must focus only on their own movements. They cannot watch opponents or think about strategy at the same time.
- Motor programs develop through repeated practice in the associative stage. This gradually reduces the mental effort needed for basic movements. More mental resources become available for decision making.
- Chunking happens as learners reach the autonomous stage. Complex movement sequences become single units in the brain. They no longer think about separate parts of the movement.
- Automatic processing occurs in the autonomous stage. Athletes can process multiple things at once like technique, opponent position, and strategy. This parallel processing is impossible in the cognitive stage where learners handle one thing at a time.
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Sample Answer
- During the cognitive stage, learners use most of their mental capacity just to understand basic movements. This creates a bottleneck that stops them from noticing other things around them.
- Working memory is limited in the cognitive stage. Learners need simple instructions and feedback. In the autonomous stage, athletes can handle complex tactical information while performing skills.
- Attentional narrowing happens in the cognitive stage. Learners must focus only on their own movements. They cannot watch opponents or think about strategy at the same time.
- Motor programs develop through repeated practice in the associative stage. This gradually reduces the mental effort needed for basic movements. More mental resources become available for decision making.
- Chunking happens as learners reach the autonomous stage. Complex movement sequences become single units in the brain. They no longer think about separate parts of the movement.
- Automatic processing occurs in the autonomous stage. Athletes can process multiple things at once like technique, opponent position, and strategy. This parallel processing is impossible in the cognitive stage where learners handle one thing at a time.