Stages of Learning

The process of learning has been broken into three stages: (1) the verbal-cognitive stage, (2) the motor stage and (3) the autonomous stage.

In the first stage, the learner is confronted with an entirely new task.

According to Gentile (1972), they are faced with the challenge of getting the general idea of the movement. Learners in this stage spend most of the time verbalizing what it is they want to do, and deciding on strategies to best accomplish the movement. Gains in performance proficiency are generally large and rapid.

In this stage there is a general activation of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and basal ganglia, as the learner is attempting to draw upon many resources in the initial stages of learning. The activation of many brain areas may be crucial for processing KR and for using verbal and cognitive strategies.

A player in the verbal-cognitive stage learning to shoot the basketball will be familiarizing themselves with the basketball (weight, size, texture), the proper hand position, how to propel the ball to basket, position on the court etc.

The learner's focus shifts to skill refinement. The learner attempts to organize more effective movement patterns to produce the action. Skill refinement differs depending on the characteristics of the movement. For skills requiring quick movements, the individual begins to build a motor program for that movement. For slower movement skills, feedback processing is used. Refinement is also different for open andclosed skills. If movements are produced in a predictable environment, the learner can focus on producing the same movement every-time, whereas if the environment is changing than the learner is forced to diversify their actions.

During the motor stage, learners demonstrate more consistency, more efficiency, and less self-talk. As well, other elements, such as timing and anticipation develop. The learners start to monitor their own feedback and errors.

As motor performance improves there is a shift from widely distributed activity including circuits not primarily involved in motor control to those that are. The greater activation of primarily motor sites is consistent with the idea that progressive automation of a skill with practice is caused by a movement becoming more fully represented in primarily motor regions. Important motor areas include the primary motor cortex, pre-motor cortex, cerebellum and basal ganglia.

Shooting a basketball is a fairly rapid movement requiring the development of a motor program. A motor program is a set of motor commands that defines the essential details of a skilled action. Initially, the skill will be practiced in a closed environment allowing the shooter to focus on correct technique and accuracy. As time progresses, the player will work in a more unpredictable environment to simulate game situations. Shooting, as an open skill, will require the shooter to make adjustments to the environment. Adjustments may include different positions on the court, dodging defensive players or shooting from stationary or moving positions.

The third stage of learning, the autonomous stage, is reached after extensive practice. In this stage the player is able to perform the movement with minimal thought. Individuals in this stage are thought to have developed their motor programs so that they can control their actions for longer periods of time. By programming longer sequences, players have decreased attentional demands. This allows people to increase their sensory analysis of environmental patterns, allowing for faster reaction times to environment cues. Movements are characterized by increased automaticity, reduced physical and mental effort and improved style and form.

When a task becomes automatic, there is activation in very specific areas of the brain rather than a widespread activation. As well, the basal ganglia plays an important role in the activation of the motor program.

When shooting the ball becomes automatic, the person no longer thinks about the fine details of the movement. The shot is manifested in one smooth motion. Once the skill of shooting is automated, the player can focus on other aspects of the game, such as strategies, plays etc.