- Define skilled performance.
Skilled performance is the ability to complete a complex movement pattern adapting to the environment and with economy of effort.
In order to reach this level of skilled performance according to Fitts and Posner (Three-Stage Model), there are several key stages associated with the motor learning process summarized below. These three main stages involved in learning a new motor skill.
- Cognitive Stage:
Understanding nature of the task, developing strategies to carry out task, determining how to evaluate task
Large variability in performance, with improvements in performance quite large
- Associative Stage:
Best strategy selected for the task, and now individual begins to refine the skill
Less variability in performance, where improvements occur more slowly
Verbal-cognitive aspect aspects of learning less important – Learner focused on refining particular pattern
- Autonomous Stage:
Automaticity of the skill and low level of attention required in its performance
Can focus on secondary tasks while performing the movement
