Whole and Part Practice

Question 1

What is the decision to practice a skill as a whole or in parts based on?

Answer 1

The skill complexity and organization

Question 2

Complexity*

Answer 2

Number of parts or components and the degree of info processing that characterize a skill

Question 3

Organization*

Answer 3

The relationships among the component parts of the skill
- skill has high level or organization when its component parts are spatially and temporally interdependent
- low organization when component parts are relatively independent

Question 4

When do we practice whole skill?

Answer 4

Skill is low complexity and high in organization

Question 5

When do we use part practice method?

Answer 5

Skill is high in complexity and low in organization

Question 6

Skill classification approach **

Answer 6

Discrete skills - Whole practice
Serial skills - Part practice
Continuous - Whole or part practice

Question 7

Serial skill

Answer 7

Skills with 2 or more actions linked together

Question 8

Practicing parts of a skill - strategy 1 **

Answer 8

1. Fractionization - involves practicing individual limbds first for a skill that involves asymmetric and simultaneous coordination of the arms or legs (playing drums

Question 9

Practicing parts of a skill - strategy 2 **

Answer 9

2. Segmentation (progressive part method)
   - Begin practice with first part of skill, then progressively add each part until the skill is practiced as a whole (tennis serve)

Question 10

Practicing parts of a skill - strategy 3 **

Answer 10

3. Simplification - Practice an easier variation of the skill before practicing the skill itself (t-ball, then pitching machine, then the pitcher)

Question 11

Attention approach involving part practice in whole practice

Answer 11

• used when it’s not advised or practical to separate parts if a skill for practice
• provides both part and whole practice including focusing attention on specific parts of the skill that need work