Motor Learning at Home

In May term, Kinesiology students had the unique opportunity to take Motor Learning class while at home. In the class we examined the learner, the task and the environment in specific motor skill situations. Zoom sessions every morning consisted of lecture, question and answer sessions and discussions as well as explanations of labs.

Instead of using equipment in the Exercise Science lab, we modified labs to use common household items and on line tools. For example, to test visual reaction time, students conducted a ruler drop test with an assistant at home. To supplement the ruler data, students used a psychology tool kit demonstration task to measure reaction time so they could examine aspects of simple and choice reaction time.

Other labs included learning to juggle using progressions, studying anticipation, the Stroop Effect, kinesthetic sense related to force and to limb location in space, multi-tasking and the speed accuracy trade-off laws.

Studying these aspects of motor learning and performance allows us to more fully understand how we learn and improve our own motor skills but also shows us what we need to do when teaching or coaching others. Application of these principles enables us to design and implement the best practice activities and protocols for learning each skill in the context we are in.

https://youtu.be/ZOO91uWTr4U

Keegan Juggling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sinA9iQZT2g