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HMS, BM 2012 HSC 25

Outline the influence of prior experience on skill acquisition.   (3 marks)

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  • Prior experience accelerates skill acquisition through transfer of learning from similar movements. Athletes with related sport backgrounds progress more quickly through cognitive and associative learning stages.
  • For example, hockey players learning cricket benefit from existing hand-eye coordination and striking techniques. Basketball players transitioning to netball utilise established passing and spatial awareness skills.
  • Previous movement patterns provide a foundation for new skill development. Experienced athletes demonstrate better motor control and coordination when learning related skills compared to complete beginners.
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  • Prior experience accelerates skill acquisition through transfer of learning from similar movements. Athletes with related sport backgrounds progress more quickly through cognitive and associative learning stages.
  • For example, hockey players learning cricket benefit from existing hand-eye coordination and striking techniques. Basketball players transitioning to netball utilise established passing and spatial awareness skills.
  • Previous movement patterns provide a foundation for new skill development. Experienced athletes demonstrate better motor control and coordination when learning related skills compared to complete beginners.

HMS, BM 2013 HSC 26

Describe THREE characteristics of a learner that can influence his/her ability to learn a new skill.   (4 marks)

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Any THREE of the following:

  • Confidence refers to a learner’s belief in their ability to successfully perform a skill. High confidence encourages risk-taking and persistent practice, whilst low confidence may limit skill attempts and slow progression through learning stages.
  • Heredity involves inherited physical characteristics that influence performance potential. Factors like muscle fibre composition, somatotype, height and gender determine natural advantages for specific sports and create unchangeable performance ceilings that cannot be exceeded through training.
  • Ability encompasses how easily an individual learns, processes and implements new skills. This includes sense acuity, perception, reaction time and intelligence, which combine to enable rapid skill acquisition and successful refinement of movement patterns.
  • Personality develops from social interactions and learning experiences throughout life. Positive traits like motivation, dedication, cooperativeness and receptiveness to instruction create favourable learning environments that accelerate skill development and performance improvement in chosen activities.
  • Prior experience involves previous exposure to similar movement patterns or sports participation. Athletes with related experience can transfer existing skills to new situations, accelerating learning through familiar movement foundations and reducing time required for skill acquisition.
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Any THREE of the following:

  • Confidence refers to a learner’s belief in their ability to successfully perform a skill. High confidence encourages risk-taking and persistent practice, whilst low confidence may limit skill attempts and slow progression through learning stages.
  • Heredity involves inherited physical characteristics that influence performance potential. Factors like muscle fibre composition, somatotype, height and gender determine natural advantages for specific sports and create unchangeable performance ceilings that cannot be exceeded through training.
  • Ability encompasses how easily an individual learns, processes and implements new skills. This includes sense acuity, perception, reaction time and intelligence, which combine to enable rapid skill acquisition and successful refinement of movement patterns.
  • Personality develops from social interactions and learning experiences throughout life. Positive traits like motivation, dedication, cooperativeness and receptiveness to instruction create favourable learning environments that accelerate skill development and performance improvement in chosen activities.
  • Prior experience involves previous exposure to similar movement patterns or sports participation. Athletes with related experience can transfer existing skills to new situations, accelerating learning through familiar movement foundations and reducing time required for skill acquisition.

HMS, BM 2019 HSC 24

How can characteristics of the learner influence skill acquisition? Use examples to support your answer.   (5 marks)

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  • Prior experience accelerates skill acquisition through transfer of existing movement patterns. This occurs because familiar skills provide a foundation for learning new movements. For example, a netball player learning basketball benefits from existing passing and catching abilities.
  • Confidence levels determine learning progression rates. When athletes have high self-confidence, they attempt new skills more readily. This leads to faster movement through cognitive and associative learning stages. Conversely, low confidence results in hesitation and slower skill development.
  • Physical characteristics influence learning capacity and skill execution. For instance, height advantages in basketball enable easier shot blocking and rebounding acquisition. Natural flexibility allows gymnasts to master complex movements more rapidly than less flexible athletes.
  • Motivation drives practice intensity and persistence during challenging learning phases. Highly motivated learners maintain effort when facing difficulties. This creates more practice opportunities, resulting in accelerated skill development and technique refinement.
  • Age affects learning speed and retention capacity. Younger learners typically acquire motor skills faster due to neuroplasticity. However, older athletes compensate through experience and tactical understanding.

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  • Prior experience accelerates skill acquisition through transfer of existing movement patterns. This occurs because familiar skills provide a foundation for learning new movements. For example, a netball player learning basketball benefits from existing passing and catching abilities.
  • Confidence levels determine learning progression rates. When athletes have high self-confidence, they attempt new skills more readily. This leads to faster movement through cognitive and associative learning stages. Conversely, low confidence results in hesitation and slower skill development.
  • Physical characteristics influence learning capacity and skill execution. For instance, height advantages in basketball enable easier shot blocking and rebounding acquisition. Natural flexibility allows gymnasts to master complex movements more rapidly than less flexible athletes.
  • Motivation drives practice intensity and persistence during challenging learning phases. Highly motivated learners maintain effort when facing difficulties. This creates more practice opportunities, resulting in accelerated skill development and technique refinement.
  • Age affects learning speed and retention capacity. Younger learners typically acquire motor skills faster due to neuroplasticity. However, older athletes compensate through experience and tactical understanding.

♦♦ Mean mark 50%.

HMS, BM EQ-Bank 530

Outline how an athlete's prior experience can both positively and negatively affect skill acquisition in a new sport.   (3 marks)

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Sample Answer

  • Prior experience can positively accelerate learning through transfer of similar movement patterns or strategic concepts, such as a basketball player adapting quickly to netball due to similar passing and defensive skills.
  • Basic motor skills developed in previous sports (coordination, balance, agility) create a foundation that allows athletes to adapt more readily to new movement demands.
  • Prior negative experiences, particularly injuries, can create hesitation or altered technique, potentially inhibiting optimal skill acquisition as the athlete may avoid movements associated with past trauma.
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Sample Answer 

  • Prior experience can positively accelerate learning through transfer of similar movement patterns or strategic concepts, such as a basketball player adapting quickly to netball due to similar passing and defensive skills.
  • Basic motor skills developed in previous sports (coordination, balance, agility) create a foundation that allows athletes to adapt more readily to new movement demands.
  • Prior negative experiences, particularly injuries, can create hesitation or altered technique, potentially inhibiting optimal skill acquisition as the athlete may avoid movements associated with past trauma.