info processing lesson 1

Information Processing

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Key Concept

Each individual has their own capacity to learn via their information processing systems. Many factors affect how people learn, their capacity to learn and ultimately their potential for performance.


Humans as information processors

In order for an athlete to perform a skilled movement, they must accept information from the environment and attempt to analyse it. Following that analysis, the brain can decide on the correct course of action.


Example

When Lleyton Hewitt is forces wide on the forehand side, he must analyse the flight and spin on the incoming ball, as well as his opponent’s court position, prior to formulating a motor program that will allow him to hit a cross-court forehand back to his opponent.


The four mechanisms

Regardless of which stage of learning an athlete is in, there are four recognised mechanisms involved in processing and learning a physical skill. Each mechanism involves analysis and interpretation of information in an effort to produce a skilled performance.

1. Input - received via the senses

2. Information processing

3. Output - produced by the muscles

4. Feedback


Humans as information processorsThere is a lot of information to process and individual ability to learn can depend on:

Physical maturation

Physical fitness capability

Attention and motivation while learning

Feedback

Memory

Amount and type of practice

Perceptual ability


Humans as information processors


Physical maturationAs children grow physically and develop, their bodies are capable of more coordinated and refined movements. Therefore, performance will improve with the appropriate level of physical maturity.

Coaches and parents need to allow for physical differences


Physical fitness capabilityDevelopment of fitness increases the learner’s ability to perform and therefore to learn. Increased muscular power in the shoulder region for example, will enable the learner to practice and perform a jump shot in basketball more effectively.

Greater fitness and endurance will also enable the learner to practice for longer, leading to more effective practice and skill learning.


Attention and motivation while learning

The more attentive and motivated the learner is, the greater his or her ability to learn skills will be.

Younger children have a shorter attention span than older children, resulting in reduced ability to concentrate. This obviously affects what and how much the beginner can learn.


Feedback

Information concerning performance, especially while learning, is vital for improvement. Feedback gives specific information about wrong judgement or incorrect technique. It also offers solutions and new approaches, reinforcing learning and providing motivation for the performer.


Amount and type of practiceA learner must physically an mentally practice skills. Practice provides an improved understanding of the skill, as well as improving performance.

Studies conducted by the AIS found that world-class team-sport athletes who had early exposure to a wide range of sports prior to specialising in their chosen sport required fewer hours of practice to achieve national selection in their chosen sport.


Perceptual AbilityInformation from your senses allows your body to construct a program to enable performance of a skill. The ability to interpret or perceive the sensory information is vital to learning and successfully performing that skill.

Example; a tennis player must observe the speed and direction of a tennis ball to move appropriately to return the ball.

The player’s ability to anticipate opposition or team mates’ movements during a game is heightened with experience.


Test your understandingName the four main components that comprise the human information processing system.

List the seven individual factors that determine the rate of human learning.


Apply your understandingExamine the usual order of the four main components that comprise the human information processing system. Why is this the best order?

Why is feedback given as the last of the four components? Could it be second or third? Under what circumstances could it be anywhere but fourth?


Extend your understandingChoose a learning situation from a sport of your choice, eg; the first time you tried to jump the high jump or complete a golf shot, go surfing or skateboarding or skiing. etc..

List the physical steps you followed to learn the skill.

What types of practice did you complete to learn the skill?

Did you learn the skill quickly? Why?


info processing lesson 1

Education

feedback information

information processors

skill learning

perceptual ability information

specific information

interpretation of information

lot of information

sensory information