How do guidance and feedback help a performer learn and refine a skill?
The types of guidance (visual, verbal, manual and mechanical) and feedback (intrinsic, extrinsic, knowledge of results, knowledge of performance, positive and negative), and their appropriate use across the stages of learning.
A focused WJEC A-Level PE answer on guidance and feedback, covering visual, verbal, manual and mechanical guidance and the forms of feedback (intrinsic, extrinsic, knowledge of results and performance), and how each suits the stages of learning.
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What this dot point is asking
WJEC wants you to describe the four types of guidance and the forms of feedback, explain a benefit and drawback of each, and match guidance and feedback to the learner's stage of learning and the demands of the skill.
Types of guidance
Manual and mechanical guidance build confidence, allow dangerous skills to be attempted safely, and give a feel for the movement (kinaesthesis). Their drawback is dependence: the performer may rely on the support, and the assisted feel may differ from the real action, so they are used sparingly and withdrawn as the learner improves.
Types of feedback
Feedback closes the information-processing loop and is essential for learning. It must be accurate, understandable and reasonably immediate to be useful.
Matching to the stages of learning
- Cognitive stage (beginner): needs frequent, simple, extrinsic feedback that is mostly positive and based on knowledge of results, plus visual and verbal guidance, because the learner cannot yet detect their own errors.
- Associative stage: can use more detailed knowledge of performance and some negative feedback to correct technique, and begins to use intrinsic feedback.
- Autonomous stage: relies heavily on intrinsic feedback and knowledge of performance to make fine adjustments, with the coach intervening less.
Examples in context
Example 1. Video feedback for a skilled sprinter. A coach uses slow-motion video (visual guidance and knowledge of performance) to help an autonomous sprinter refine their start technique, because the athlete already produces fast times and now needs fine technical detail. This shows feedback shifting towards KP at higher levels.
Example 2. Floats as mechanical guidance in swimming. A learner uses a float to practise the leg kick safely and feel the body position, then the float is removed once the kick is secure. WJEC uses this to show the benefit (support and feel) and the planned removal to avoid dependence.
Try this
Q1. Name the four types of guidance. [2 marks]
- Cue. Visual, verbal, manual and mechanical.
Q2. Explain one benefit and one drawback of manual guidance for a beginner. [2 marks]
- Cue. Benefit: it gives safety, confidence and a feel of the correct movement. Drawback: the performer can become dependent on it and the assisted feel may differ from the real action.
Q3. Explain why a beginner benefits more from knowledge of results than knowledge of performance. [2 marks]
- Cue. A beginner first needs to know whether the outcome succeeded to stay motivated and adjust; they cannot yet process detailed technical (performance) feedback.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC 20184 marksDescribe manual and mechanical guidance and explain a benefit and a drawback of using them with a beginner.Show worked answer →
Manual guidance is physically supporting or moving the performer's body through the action (for example, a coach holding a gymnast through a vault). Mechanical guidance uses a device to assist (for example, a harness or float).
Benefit: they build confidence, allow a dangerous skill to be attempted safely, and give the learner a feel for the correct movement (kinaesthesis) in the cognitive stage.
Drawback: the performer can become dependent on the support, the feel may differ from the real action, and overuse can interfere with developing the skill independently.
Markers reward a correct description of each, a benefit (safety, confidence, feel of the movement) and a drawback (dependence or altered feel).
WJEC 20204 marksExplain the difference between knowledge of results and knowledge of performance, and state which is more useful as a performer becomes more skilled.Show worked answer →
Knowledge of results (KR) is extrinsic feedback about the outcome of the movement (whether the shot scored, the time achieved).
Knowledge of performance (KP) is extrinsic feedback about the quality of the technique that produced the outcome (how the movement was performed).
As a performer becomes more skilled and moves into the associative and autonomous stages, knowledge of performance becomes more useful, because they already achieve the outcome and now need to refine the technique. Beginners rely more on knowledge of results to know whether they succeeded.
Markers reward a correct definition of KR and KP and the point that KP becomes more useful for more skilled performers.
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