Week 1 - Theoretical Perspectives in Motor Development & Learning

Motor Development

The study of continuous, sequential, age-related changes in motor behavior across the lifespan. These changes are influenced by individual, environmental, and task constraints.

Motor Learning

Relatively permanent gains in motor skill capability that occur through practice or experience.

Motor Control

The neural, physical, and behavioral aspects of movement (how the body organizes and executes motor actions).

What are developmental concerns in motor skills?

Changes that occur over meaningful periods of time, such as infants learning to walk or older adults experiencing mobility decline.

What factors are developmental concerns tied to?

Growth, maturation, and age-related processes.

What are short-term changes in motor skills attributed to?

Practice or immediate experience, such as a teenager improving penalty kicks after three weeks of practice.

How do short-term changes differ from developmental changes?

Short-term changes reflect motor learning rather than motor development.

What is a longitudinal study in motor development research?

A study that follows the same individuals across time.

What is a cross-sectional study in motor development research?

A study that compares individuals of different ages at one point in time.

What is a sequential study in motor development research?

A study that combines both longitudinal and cross-sectional approaches.

What do these research methods help track in motor development?

Developmental trajectories and the distinction between typical and atypical development.

What is required for motor development beyond aging?

Accompanying experiences are required, not just aging.

What are the three factors that interact in motor development?

Individual, task, and environmental constraints.

List the six principles of motor development.

Qualitative, sequential, cumulative, directional, multifactorial, and individual.

Why does motor development occur across the lifespan?

Humans continually adapt physically, cognitively, and socially to changing demands, environments, and biological aging.

What are the three types of constraints in Newell's Model of Motor Development?

Individual constraints, environmental constraints, and task constraints.

What are individual constraints in motor development?

Factors related to the individual, including structural aspects like height and muscle mass, and functional aspects like motivation and attention.

What do environmental constraints refer to in Newell's Model?

External factors that influence motor development, such as gravity, surfaces, cultural norms, and gender roles.

What are task constraints in the context of motor development?

Constraints specific to the task itself, including goals, rules, and equipment used.

How does Newell's Model of Constraints explain motor development?

It emphasizes the dynamic interaction between individual, environmental, and task constraints in shaping both typical and atypical motor development.

How do movements change from infancy to childhood?

Crawling evolves into walking, running, and eventually skipping or hopping.

What changes occur in movements from childhood to adolescence?

Movements become more coordinated and efficient, such as throwing evolving from a simple arm push to a full-body, overhand motion.

What happens to movement skills from adulthood to older adulthood?

Movements may slow down, balance and reaction times decrease, and strength declines, affecting everyday activities.

What individual factors impact movement skills?

Strength, flexibility, balance, motivation, and attention.

What environmental factors influence movement skills?

Access to safe play areas, cultural norms, and encouragement from teachers and parents.

What task factors affect the development of movement skills?

Type of equipment, rules of a game, and specific skill demands.

What are fundamental movement skills for elementary learners?

Running, jumping, skipping, and hopping.

What types of games can be taught to elementary learners to develop motor skills?

Throwing and catching games with beanbags, soft balls, or frisbees.

What balance activities can be introduced to elementary students?

Yoga poses and obstacle courses.

What are cooperative games that encourage teamwork in physical education?

Parachute play, relay races, and tag variations.

How does understanding motor development apply to teaching physical education?

It helps recognize developmentally appropriate practices, supports atypical development, and designs lessons that fit individual abilities.

What is the significance of recognizing developmentally appropriate practices in motor development?

It ensures that physical education activities are suitable for different ages and skill levels.

How can teachers support students with atypical motor development?

By identifying their needs and providing appropriate interventions or modifications.

What is the importance of progressing skills step by step in motor development?

It builds a foundation for more advanced movements and ensures skill acquisition.

How does motor development influence cognitive and social growth in students?

It encourages physical, cognitive, and social development through structured physical activities.

Open-loop control

Movement is pre-planned and executed without feedback (e.g., a fast golf swing).

Closed-loop control

Movement is adjusted during execution using feedback (e.g., balancing on a beam).

Invariant features

Core elements of a movement that remain constant (e.g., sequence of actions, relative timing).

Parameters

Flexible aspects that can be adjusted (e.g., speed, force, limb used).

What does the information-processing perspective emphasize in learning?

It views learners as processing inputs, making decisions, and executing responses.

What is the focus of the ecological perspective in learning?

It emphasizes the interaction of the individual with the environment, focusing on affordances (action possibilities) rather than internal processing.

What are affordances in the context of the ecological perspective?

Affordances refer to the action possibilities available to an individual within their environment.