MOTOR LEARNING AND LAWN BOWLS

The four main stages of information processing are input, processing (decision making), output and feedback (Hede, 2011). During the input stage the body’s senses gather information from the environment. Vision is considered the most important of the senses, however touch and auditory receptors are also important in perceiving information (McMorris, 2004). Using these senses the player is detects cues and makes decisions before moving into the second stage of the information processing model. Detecting cues can be dependent on many things, such as, the intensity of the cue, the length of time the cue is present, the performer’s senses, prior experience and the amount of ‘noise’ or distractions. For example, in lawn bowls, detecting a cue can be as simple as observing the opponent’s shot and beginning to plan the next bowl. As an associative learner I can do this successfully. The environment is full of sensory information, which consequents to a person receiving up to and beyond 100,000 signals. These signals can come from the environment and/or the athlete themselves. According to the Swets and Green theory, signal detection refers to internal and external signals the performer receives whilst playing sport (McMorris, 2004). For example, in lawn bowls an internal signal would be the performer questioning their move, i.e. will I win? Will I execute this shot well? My ability to detect signals and react to them has improved dramatically throughout the course and adds to the idea of progressing from a cognitive learner to an associative learner. Selective attention is the ability to block out ‘noise’ and other distractions to selectively focus on certain aspects of the sport. An example of this is relation to lawn bowls is, ignoring the opponents and the weather/environment conditions and focussing on executing the shot with accuracy. I developed as a performer when I focussed on the individual task ahead rather than focus on too many things at once.

 

The second stage of the information processing model is processing or decision making which is when the information received externally from the senses and internally from the body is interpreted and organised (Hede, 2011). Once all sensory information is received a decision has to be made about the appropriate action to take. Similar experiences can influence the way a performer decides on a course and takes action. For example, in lawn bowls if the performer has prior experience in the sport this will trigger long-term memory and help the performer determine the best course of action to take. Due to my prior experience in lawn bowls I was able to make decisions to the standard of an associative learner. Making the appropriate decision at certain times helped develop my skills further and improve my consistency in game situations that indicate that I am at a higher level to that of a cognitive learner.

 

The third stage of the information processing model is output. This is the physical response to stimulus. Once the player processes the information (input) and decides which action to take (processing or decision making), the brain directs the body on how and where to move in response (Hede, 2011). In lawn bowls this means to act on the decision of what type of shot to play. Making appropriate decisions at certain times helped my understanding and knowledge of the game, once this was done, I was required to turn these decisions into actions. After practise and consideration I improved in this dramatically, by refining and perfecting skills at an associative level to better my performance. The standard of my success in the third stage of the information processing model was satisfactory, indicating that I am at a higher skill level to that of a cognitive learner.

 

Internal and external feedback are important when learning new skills. External feedback is the information received from coaches and internal feedback is the information that you feel about your performance (BBC, 2014). Acknowledging mistakes is the first step to progressing and improving your skills. In lawn bowls, understanding what mistakes are made when they are made is useful in improving on your next bowl and beating the opponent.

 

This model played an important role in my ability to assess and evaluate what actions need to be taken to be successful in lawn bowls. The feedback I received from my teacher and coaches was especially helpful in doing this. Understanding the information processing model was useful in progressing from the cognitive stage to the associative stage. Acknowledging my mistakes and evaluating my performances was a major key factor in showing a higher skill to that of a cognitive learner and progressing and developing as a player. External feedback was found most useful in this unit as there were multiple lawn bowl coaches at the venue teaching and correcting me as I played. Without the external help of my teacher and coaches I would not have progressed to the associative stage of learning.