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ERIC Number: ED254680
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1984-Dec
Pages: 9
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Psychomotor Skill Acquisition in the Technical Subjects.
PaDelford, Harry
Psychomotor skills need to be taught in technical education courses. Some students can be taught more easily than others, depending on their physical attributes. These attributes are speed, steadiness, perception, dexterity, agility/flexibility, endurance, equilibrium/balance, strength, and coordination. Before students attempt to learn vocational psychomotor skills, they can be assessed on each of their attributes and their competence as they attempt to learn psychomotor skills. There are four important steps in acquiring psychomotor skills: perception, motivation, imitation, and practice. Learners can go back and forth in these steps during the learning process. Vocational teachers can improve students' chances of attaining success in acquiring psychomotor skills in two particular ways: (1) The teacher can determine which attributes are required to perform the psychomotor skill and look for ways to help students increase the qualities of these attributes; and (2) The teacher should focus on the four steps of the psychomotor skill acquisition process. For example, in the first step, the teacher can use several methods of presenting the example in order to increase students' perceptions. In the second step, motivation can be increased by promoting club activities and a sense of accomplishment. The third step, imitation, can be enhanced by listing the steps in the sequence and using examples and diagrams for reinforcement. Practice, the fourth step, can be achieved by games and competition. Focusing on helping students to acquire psychomotor skills will assist the student in attaining total success. (KC)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Presented at the American Vocational Association Convention (New Orleans, LA, December 1984).