Ecological Theory and Fitts & Posner's 3 Stage Model

Vocabulary flashcards covering Ecological Theory and Fitts & Posner's 3 Stage Model, including definitions, applications in physical therapy, limitations, and key concepts.

Ecological Theory

A motor learning theory that emphasizes dynamic, exploratory activity of the space to create optimal strategies to complete a task.

Perceptual Information

Information within Ecological Theory that helps a learner understand the goal, provides motor guidance on how to move, and guides problem-solving to determine the best way to move.

PT Application of Ecological Theory

Helping a person recognize important sensory information relevant to the task by practicing in different environments or conditions to highlight cues.

Limitation of Ecological Theory

It is an abstract theory.

Cognitive Stage

The first stage in Fitts & Posner's model, where the learner is concerned with understanding the task and discovering strategies.

Associative Stage

The second stage in Fitts & Posner's model, where the learner has refined their strategy and begins to fine-tune it.

Autonomous Stage

The final stage in Fitts & Posner's model, characterized by automaticity of the skill to the degree of requiring minimum attention.

Fitts & Posner's 3 Stage Model Graph

A graph illustrating that as practice time increases across the Cognitive, Associative, and Autonomous stages, the required level of attention decreases.

PT Application of Fitts & Posner's Model

Recognizing that early in learning, patients may need a lot of conscious cognitive effort to learn movement, but less attention is needed to perform the task as learning progresses.

Limitation of Fitts & Posner's Model

It requires lots of practice time to get to the autonomous stage.