Stages of Learning

• The cognitive stage of learning is when the performer is a beginner.
• The cognitive stage of learning involves:

  Conscious thought is used

  Movements are often jerky and lack fluency

  Needs to create a clear mental picture

  Errors are made

  Trial and error is used a lot

  Relies on extrinsic feedback

  Motor plans start to form
• The associative stage of learning is where the performer is an intermediate.
• Associative stage of learning involves:

  Practice is important

  Improvements in performance occur and less errors are made

  Movements are less jerky, more fluent and more co-ordinated

  Performers own error detection and correction starts to operate

  Performers start to develop intrinsic feedback

  Motor programmes are formed

  Some performers remain in this stage
• The autonomous stage of learning is when the performer is an expert.
• Movements at the autonomous stage of learning are:

  Performed subconsciously

  Habitual, Grooved, or consistent

  Performers have spare attentional capacity to focus on tactics

  Fully fluent or efficient

  Confidently performed

  Performance is accurate, skillful, minimal mistakes

  Motor programmes are now fully formed and stored in the LTM

  Performers successfully use intrinsic feedback

  Practice is essential to stay in this stage