Three Stages of Learning

• Three Stages of Learning - (Fitts & Posner, 1967)

  1. Cognitive
  2. Associative
  3. Autonomous
• Cognitive stage:

  • Developing basic understanding of skill
  • Problem solving & hypothesis testing
  • Directing attention to movement
  • Verbal rules of movement
• Associative stage:

  • Basic skill established → now refined
  • Performance & consistency improves
  • Reduced problem solving / attention to movement
  • Verbal rules transformed into ‘procedural knowledge’
• Autonomous stage:

  • Skilled performance
  • Consistent and fluent movement execution
  • Minimal attention to movement needed (automatic)