#307 Dr Thomas Simpson - Utilising OPTIMAL Theory in your Coaching Practice
Nov 18, 2024
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Dr. Thomas Simpson, a Lecturer in Motor Learning at Edge Hill University, discusses optimizing children's motor learning through attentional and motivational insights. He reveals how the OPTIMAL theory can transform physical education by using external focus and enhanced expectations. The conversation explores fostering autonomy in coaching, the importance of thoughtful feedback, and the impact of positive reinforcement on young athletes. Additionally, he highlights the crucial differences between external and internal focus in improving sports performance.
Dr. Thomas Simpson emphasizes the importance of using external focus instructions and positive feedback to enhance children's motor learning in PE settings.
The OPTIMAL theory combines cognitive, motivational, and perceptual elements to optimize skill acquisition and foster a supportive learning environment.
Deep dives
Background and Focus of Skill Acquisition Research
Dr. Thomas Simpson, a lecturer at Edge Hill University, discusses his extensive research in skill acquisition and motor learning. His work particularly emphasizes optimal theory, which examines how best to teach motor skills to children through effective instructional behaviors. His PhD research explored different focuses of attention and how they impact children’s motor performance in physical education (PE) settings. By investigating what PE teachers do in practice, Simpson aims to understand and optimize the instructional methods that can facilitate skill development in young learners.
Understanding Optimal Theory
Optimal theory posits that effective motor learning encompasses cognitive, motivational, and perceptual elements in addition to physical skills. The theory focuses on the interaction of intrinsic motivation and attention, specifically highlighting three main factors: enhanced expectancies, autonomy support, and an external focus of attention. Enhanced expectancies refer to boosting learners' confidence in their abilities, while autonomy support encourages students to take ownership of their learning. Emphasizing external focus involves directing learners' attention to the intended outcomes of their actions, leading to improved performance and skill acquisition.
Instructional Strategies in Physical Education
Research revealed that PE teachers often employ instructional behaviors that promote an optimal learning environment, such as providing external focus instructions and positive feedback. These teachers tend to enhance students' expectations by emphasizing improvement and effort through encouraging language. An example includes providing positive reinforcement like 'that's better than last time' to inspire confidence. By fostering a supportive atmosphere and using language that encourages autonomy, PE teachers create an engaging environment that can lead to better learning outcomes for students.
Implications and Future Directions
Simpson's findings indicate that PE teachers often demonstrate optimal instructional behaviors, contrasting sharply with the controlling methods observed in high-performance sports environments. The context of physical education, which focuses more on development rather than competition, enables teachers to adopt more positive feedback and supportive practices. However, there remains a need for further research to examine why teachers sometimes blend optimal and non-optimal feedback, exploring how these mixed messages affect learner motivation and performance. Continued investigation into these instructional methods will enhance coaching frameworks and contribute to effective skill development strategies in educational settings.
I’m delighted to speak with Dr Thomas Simpson this week. Thomas is a lecturer in Motor Learning and Skill Acquisition at Edge Hill University. He is interested in how motor learning and motor skill acquisition in children can be optimised through attentional and motivational factors. Thomas obtained his BSc in Sport and Exercise Science and his PhD at Edge Hill University.
In this episode we discuss a paper Thomas co-wrote which examined the use of OPTIMAL Instructions and Feedback in Physical Education Settings. Here, OPTIMAL stands for Optimizing Performance through Intrinsic Motivation and Attention for Learning. It is a theory of motor learning developed by Gabriele Wulf and Rebecca Lewthwaite.
The paper investigates how PE teachers can use instruction and feedback which promote OPTIMAL theory motor learning factors (e.g., an external focus of attention, enhanced expectancies and autonomy support) to enhance children’s motor learning.
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