Gentile’s Learning Stages Model

• INITIAL STAGE:

  • acquisition of a movement co-ordination pattern which matches action to regulatory environmental conditions
  • ability to discriminate between regulatory and nonregulatory environmental features
• LATER STAGES:

  • adapt movement pattern to demands of any situation
  • increase consistency in achieving the goal
  • perform the skill with an economy of effort
• Closed skills:

  • Environmental constraints are constant & unchanging
  • Skill thus does not need to be adapted to environment (as much)
• Open skills:

  • Environmental constraints are/could constantly change
  • Skill needs to be adapted to such changes
• Later stages + closed skill:

  • fixation
  • refinement of invariant movement patterns (correct, consistent & efficient)
• Later stages + open skill:

  • diversification
  • capacity to modify movement pattern according to environmental conditions