Man's phylogenetic development has resulted in a potential for environmental interaction in a symbolic and conceptual manner. There are ontogenetic requirements to develop such potential. The process by which man learns is sequential and involves perceptual-motor-cognitive abilities. There is an optimum respectivity period at each developmental…

Recent findings related to neurological research include: (1) the Proster Theory implies that the brain works by sets of programs or prosters; (2) the Brain Growth Spurts theory defines the growth of the brain in spurts with cycles of rest; and (3) in the Hemispheric Specialization Theory, the left and right hemispheres of the brain have specific…

Discusses the renaissance of motor skill acquisition studies that are affording new insights into the processes by which infants and children learn to control their bodies. The article explains how studies are now focusing less on how children perform and more on how the components cooperate to produce stability or engender change, thus making…

This book presents a comprehensive and detailed theory of early human development based on the principles of dynamic systems theory. It raises fundamental questions about prevailing assumptions in the field and proposes a new theory of the development of cognition and action, unifying recent advances in dynamic systems theory with current research…

The presuppositions that favor firsthand experience over secondhand information, as pertaining to learning and education, are questioned. It is noted that, when education and firsthand experience are described as if equivalent, a presumption is made that a commonsense theory of knowledge and mind is valid. Research on the social psychology of…

The measurability of sensorimotor development in 60 severely retarded, institutionalized adults was studied, using the Piagetian concept of object permanence in a delayed recall paradigm that involved special apparatus. Results suggested, among other things, that severely retarded, institutionalized adults learn most efficiently when trained with…

Twenty-five male (aged 7 years, 6 months to 10 years, 7 months) and five female (aged 9 years, 3 months to 10 years, 2 months) minimally brain damaged children were examined to determine feasibility of perceptual motor training on the pursuit rotor (which requires Ss to track a light as it revolves under a pattern on a turntable). Experimental Ss…

The original intent of this investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Object Sorting Task (OST) as a predictor of learning outcomes, especially among minority children. The study results, however, have produced a subtle but significant shift of attention to the issue of possible differences in the cognitive organization of children…

Use of a retention test in an investigation regarding the post-knowledge of results (KR) interval provides evidence suggesting that, while activity during the post-KR interval is detrimental to performance, no such assumption can be made about its effect on learning. Implications for motor learning and performance are discussed. (Author/PP)

Reviews research and supports a perceptual-motor theory of handwriting instruction. (RD)

Three theories have been proposed to explain the relationship between nonverbal behavior and cognitive learning: arousal theory, depth-of-processing theory, and muscular movement theory. The first two theories place emphasis on the role of the teacher and have been empirically tested. The third theory, muscular movement (which suggests that the…

The learning effects of display motion in procedural learning tasks were examined in two studies. In the first study, two videotapes with identical sound tracks were constructed--one using the recorded television camera motion, the other substituting a parallel series of still camera shots. The results showed a superiority of the motion condition.…

Beginning with the observation that sex differences affecting the learning process have largely been ignored in our schools, this dissertation reviews literature on the differences in learning characteristics of boys and girls and proposes a proprioceptor stimulation or multisensory approach of teaching. The author maintains that kinesthetic…

This paper suggests: (1) how to increase the amount of practice that an athlete can work in during the day; and (2) ways to enhance practice for maximum performance gains. Research information about both physical and mental forms of practice are synthesized. (PP)

This collection of symposium papers is published for members of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation with the intention of providing current synthesis of research in physical education. This volume contains papers discussing and analyzing research on teacher behaviors in the field of athletics and movement education…