Principles of Practice Design

Chapter 9: Principles of Practice Design

Learning Objectives

• Understand the impact of practice designs on learning: Recognize the different practice strategies and their effects on skill acquisition.
• Explore part practice techniques: Learn about effective ways to break down skills for better performance.
• Understand speed-accuracy tradeoff: Grasp how performance speed influences accuracy and vice versa.
• Psychological strategies for skill acquisition: Familiarize with mental techniques that can facilitate learning and enhance performance.

Key Concepts

• Does practice make perfect?

  • The idea that practice improves performance is widely accepted but needs strategic implementation.

• Cerebral Challenge: Performance of one part of a skill can favorably influence the next component.

Breaking Down Skills

• Deciding between whole vs. part practice:
  • Consider when to break down a skill into parts or practice it as a whole based on:
  • Complexity of the task.
  • Required speed and accuracy.
  • Need for both dominant and non-dominant use of skills.

Whole vs. Part Practice Methods

• Whole Practice: Teaching the entire skill at once which can enhance motivation and create a complete experience. Great for skills that are simple and do not require high cognitive load.
• Part Practice: Breaking a complex skill into smaller parts allows for focused learning on problem areas.
  • Benefits:
  • Simplification of the skill.
  • Early success leads to increased motivation.
  • Targeted practice on difficult segments without wasting valuable time.

Nature of the Skill

• Task Complexity:
  • Refers to the number of necessary subcomponents and information-processing demands.
• Task Organization:
  • The extent to which the performance of each skill part relies on preceding components.
• Capabilities of Learner:
  • Individual differences in skill acquisition capabilities.

Skill Classification Table (9.1)

• High Complexity: Executing a jump, serve in volleyball.
• Low Complexity: Putting a golf ball, performing bicep curl.

Part Practice Techniques

• Segmentation: Breaking skills into parts and teaching them sequentially.
  • Methods: Part-whole method, progressive-part method, repetitive-part method.
• Fractionization: Independently practicing components performed simultaneously.
• Simplification: Adjusting skill difficulty through:
  • Equipment modification
  • Reducing coordination demands
  • Simplifying environment complexity
  • Incorporating simpler activities.

Simplification Examples (Table 9.4)

• Equipment modifications like larger bats and lighter balls to facilitate skill engagement.

Speed-Accuracy Tradeoff

• Spatial Accuracy: Increasing speed can compromise accuracy.
• Temporal Accuracy: Can be improved by movement speed or reduced distance.
• Fitt’s Law: Explains the mathematical relationship between speed and accuracy:
  • MT = a + b[log_2(rac{2A}{W})]

Bilateral Transfer

• Training one limb can enhance skill acquisition in the opposite limb. Understanding effective sequencing in practice routines is crucial for this transfer.

Psychological Strategies

• Factors leading to loss of motivation can be countered with:
  • Fun & Varied Practice: Keeping activities engaging.
  • Sense of Success: Celebrating achievements to build confidence.
  • Goal Setting: Establishing clear objectives to monitor development.

Goal Setting Techniques

• Establish SMART goals:
  • Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, Timely.
  • Importance of both short and long-term goals.

Mental Practice and Imagery

• Imagery involves visualizing motor movements without physical execution.
• PETTLEP Model: Framework for effective imagery practices includes physical, environment, task, time, learning, emotion, and perspective considerations.

Imagery Guidelines

• Regular practice of imagery in controlled environments.
• Create vivid, controllable positive mental images focusing on success.
• Incorporate all senses to replicate real experiences during practice.