Learning About Learning

Romiszowski, a well-known curriculum designer originally from the Systems Thinking school, has developed a model which he calls Psychomotor Theory. It focuses on complex physical and cognitive skills acquired in coordination with each other. Therefore it includes physical, emotional, cognitive and social aspects of learning.

Because of his work in analyzing the continuum of skills involved in acquisition of both coordination and judgment in operating complex equipment or performing as a star athlete, Romiszowski is able to show connections in his theory with various other theories.

The five stages of the process of learning which Romiszowski describes appear to be very fundamental and very effective:

1- Acquire knowledge of what should be done, why, in what order, and how.

2- Execute the actions, in order, for each part of the operation.

3- Transfer control from the eyes to the kinesthetic or other senses.

4- Automatize the skill (through repetition).

5- Generalize the skill to wider application.

Romiszowski’s work is important in understanding the basis of automatic skill development.

Here’s the article.