MOTOR LEARNING THEORIES
3.3 The Event
FITTS & POSNER (1967)
STAGES OF LEARNING
There are three main stages we go through as
we learn a complex skill
 Cognitive – finding out
 Associative - practicing
 Autonomous - automatic
COGNITIVE
During this phase the learner finds out
what to do
Identify subroutines
Learn sequence
Phase is characterised by lots of errors
A lot of specific feedback is required
ASSOCIATIVE
 This is the practise phase after having received and understood information about
performing skill
 Amount of practise will depend on complexity of skill, ability, past experience and
motivation
 As you refine skills you make fewer and fewer errors
 Some performers struggle and remain within this stage for years and may never reach
autonomous phase
AUTONOMOUS
 This is the automatic phase where skill becomes
easy to accomplish
 Skill is now organised so movement can be
performed without thinking about individual
elements
 Skill can now just be part of overall game or can
become a subroutine for even more complex skill
SCHMIDT – SCHEMA THEORY
Recall Schema
Initial Condition
Skill Aims
Responses
Information regarding how the player is
feeling, and the environment they are
working in, eg -
Information regarding the
objective of the action
In order to achieve the
goal/objective, information is
required regarding …….