2) At the end of the period, record your frustration, problems, pleasures, insights, and comments about the methods tried and the psychological aspects for each day. This daily log is to be attached to your final report.
Results:.
As probably imagined, most people improved with time. While the class average for number of trials only increased over the five days from 24 to 26 and back to 25, the number of catches increased more than doubled from 79 to 164. Meaning that in only five trails, as a whole, 46 students more than doubled their performance and amount of catches. *(as noted in graph one) My personal performance increased from 73 catches in 25 trials to 174 catches in 26 trials. *(as noted in graph two) I know personally, I was capable to bypass the thought process and just do it out of instinct. Watch the balls rise and fall and not really concentrate on the muscular activities of catching and throwing. .
Discussion:.
1) What did you learn about learning a new skill? It never gets easier. Through my experience, the best way to learn a new skill is not though any fancy technique, but though good old fashioned practice. Once the skill has been permanently imbedded into the brain, the body can do it like it is natural, but the only way to get it there is through repetition. .
2) What factors seemed to increase the efficiency; decrease efficiency? Time and concentration improved efficiency, but frustration and fatigue can be the enemy. With time, and no progress, frustration sets in, seemingly to but a mental block on the ability to simply toss and catch the ball.
3) What happened as you began to learn? To the method used? Throughout the early trials, I tried several different techniques; throwing each ball up and down parallel to each other, hand motions in a circle to the side, and hand motions in a circle close to and far away from the body. In the end I found that the circular motions worked the best, especially when throwing the ball towards the body.