Learning Curves, Theories and Stages

What Learning Curves, Theories and Stages covers

Learning Curves, Theories and Stages is examined in AS Unit 1, Exploring physical education. It covers learning curves and plateaus, observational learning, reinforcement and drive reduction theory and Fitts and Posner's stages of learning.

The 4 subtopics

Each one has its own page. WJEC AS Physical Education students sit this topic in the first year.

• Learning curves and plateausLearning curves, positively and negatively accelerated and linear curves, learning plateaus and their causes, boredom, new goals, and the link between curves and the stages of learning.Open →
• Observational learningObservational learning and DARMMM, the demonstration, attention, retention, motor reproduction, motivation and matching performance, models of similar age and ability, and teaching a skill by observation.Open →
• Reinforcement and drive reduction theoryPositive and negative reinforcement and punishment, reinforcement across the phases of learning, Hull's drive reduction theory and learning plateaus, maintaining drive, and the overuse of punishment.Open →
• Fitts and Posner's stages of learningThe cognitive, associative and autonomous stages, the guidance and practice that suit each, the shift in attention, why autonomous performers keep practising and why some never reach that stage.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Learning Curves, Theories and Stages further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Negative reinforcement vs Punishment

  Negative reinforcement: removing something unpleasant to strengthen a correct response. Punishment: adding something unpleasant to stop an incorrect response.

• Positively accelerated curve vs Negatively accelerated curve

  Positively accelerated curve: slow early gains that speed up later. Negatively accelerated curve: rapid early gains that slow down later.

• Associative stage vs Autonomous stage

  Associative stage: the practice phase in which errors fall and movements smooth out. Autonomous stage: the phase in which movement is automatic with little conscious thought.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is a learning curve?

   Model answer

   A learning curve is a graph showing how performance changes over a series of trials. It shows the rate of learning.

2. 2

   What does a positively accelerated curve show?

   Model answer

   A positively accelerated curve shows slow improvement at first, then faster improvement. It suits a complex skill learned slowly at first.

3. 3

   What does a negatively accelerated curve show?

   Model answer

   A negatively accelerated curve shows rapid early improvement that then slows. It suits a simple skill learned quickly.

4. 4

   What does a linear curve show?

   Model answer

   A linear curve shows steady improvement at a constant rate. Each trial brings a similar gain.

5. 5

   What is a learning plateau?

   Model answer

   A learning plateau is a period when performance stops improving. It appears as a flat section on the curve.

6. 6

   What causes a learning plateau?

   Model answer

   Boredom, fatigue, lack of motivation and poor coaching can cause a plateau. A performer may also be near the limit of their ability.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Learning Curves, Theories and Stages revision questions

Is Learning Curves, Theories and Stages examined at AS in WJEC Physical Education?

Yes. It sits in AS Unit 1, which you take in the first year, so it is on the AS paper as well as counting towards the full A level.

What does Learning Curves, Theories and Stages cover in WJEC AS-Level Physical Education?

4 subtopics: learning curves and plateaus, observational learning, reinforcement and drive reduction theory and fitts and posner's stages of learning. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Learning Curves, Theories and Stages organised?

By the WJEC 601-8485-1 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.