Lecture 7: Defining and Assessing Learning

Question 1

Performance

Answer 1

1. Execution of a skill (observable)
2. Ex. Shooting a free throw

Question 2

Learning

Answer 2

1. Gaining knowledge of a skill through experience, should be a relatively permanent improvement in that skill.
2. Not observable.
3. Must be inferred from observable behavior.

Question 3

What does the acronym R.A.P.S.C.I stand for?

Answer 3

1. The 6 performance characteristics that define learning.
   a. Improvement (Error down, performance up)
   b. Consistency (Similar to past successful performance)
   c. Stability (Performing task well if stress is present)
   d. Persistence (Doing a skill after a long time) (Riding a bike)
   e. Adaptability (Generalization, can skill be transferred to different setting)
   f. Reduced attention demands (Directing attention somewhere else and performing skill well)

Question 4

What is the acronym for “Learning Assessment Techniques”?

Answer 4

1. O.R.T
   a. Observing practice performance
   b. Retention Tests
   c. Transfer Tests

Question 5

Observing Practice Performance

Answer 5

1. Performance Curves
2. Line graph that plots performance measures across practice trials or periods of time.
3. X axis: Time (Bottom)
4. Y axis: Performance (side)

Question 6

Continuous Skill

Answer 6

1. No clear beginning and end
2. Repeated over and over again

Question 7

Discrete Skill

Answer 7

1. Definite beginning and end

Question 8

What are the 4 general trends in performance curves

Answer 8

1. Linear
2. Negatively accelerated
3. Positively accelerated
4. Ogive or S-shaped

Question 9

Kinetics

Answer 9

1. How force affects motion

Question 10

Kinematics

Answer 10

1. How an object moves through space

Question 11

What is “Arc Consistency”

Answer 11

1. As time goes on, an individual becomes more consistent
2. Decreases variability–> Learning occurred

Question 12

Performance Curve Tip

Answer 12

1. Motor learning can be measured through performance curves, but performance curves are not learning curves.
2. Performance does not always indicate progress

Question 13

Two reasons why practice performance may misrepresent learning

Answer 13

1. Artificial inflation or depression of performance.
2. Performance plateaus: training stops and doesn’t get any better. (Flooring and ceiling effects)

Question 14

The Law of Practice

Answer 14

1. Performance continuous if practice continuous, but slows over time.

Question 15

Law of Diminishing Returns

Answer 15

1. Gains slow over time.
2. If you don’t alter practice, you wont improve.

Question 16

Monotonic Benefits Assumption (MBA)

Answer 16

1. Notion that learning occurs at the same rate as long as practice continues, though its manifestation decreases at a predictable rate.
2. Proportional gain in skill throughout practice.

Question 17

Asymptote

Answer 17

1. Theoretical upper limit to learning that is progressively approached with practice but never reached.
2. Trying to run a perfect 3 min mile but keep getting 3.02

Question 18

What are Retention Tests?

Answer 18

1. Persistence of Performance
2. Performing skill after a long period of time, and seeing if you could do the skill again.

Question 19

What are Transfer Tests?

Answer 19

1. Adaptability Measures
2. Assess adaptability of what was learned during practice.

Question 20

What are Transfer Designs?

Answer 20

1. Analyze whether a change that improves performance also improves learning (Temporary vs. Permanent)