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New
New
Year 11
AQA

Basic information processing

I can identify and explain each stage of the basic information processing model.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11
AQA

Basic information processing

I can identify and explain each stage of the basic information processing model.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Information processing involves interpreting sensory input, making decisions and sending commands to muscles.
  2. The input stage receives information from the environment via selective attention to focus on relevant details.
  3. Decision making involves selecting an appropriate response by accessing both long-term and short-term memory.
  4. During the output stage, the chosen response is transmitted as signals to the muscles to execute the action.
  5. Feedback provides information on performance and helps with future improvements

Keywords

  • Information processing - making decisions and gathering data from the display (senses), prioritising the most important stimuli to make a suitable decision

  • Input stage - information from the display

  • Decision making - selection of appropriate response from the short and long-term memory

  • Output stage - information sent to the muscles to carry out a response

  • Feedback - information a performer receives from self (intrinsic) or others (extrinsic)

Common misconception

The input part of the model is largely based on being able to use sight to inform the brain.

Input is gathering data from all the senses. In sport, these can be what you see, hear, feel and touch.


To help you plan your year 11 physical education lesson on: Basic information processing, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Provides lots of examples to draw and label the basic information processing model and apply to a breadth of skills from varying sports.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Use skills in the lesson such as passing a ball to break down the information to be processed.

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which sense would be used to follow the flight path of a ball in motion.
smell
taste
Correct answer: vision
touch
hearing
Q2.
Which of the following skills is classified as an open skill?
Correct answer: catching a netball
a penalty kick in football
a seat landing in trampolining
a long jump
Q3.
There are senses which are connected to the nervous system to inform the brain.
Correct Answer: five, 5
Q4.
Which of the following is provided by a coach after performing a skill?
warm up
Correct answer: feedback
substitution
goal setting
Q5.
Place in order the sequence of events when catching a tennis ball.
An image in a quiz
1 - see the individual throwing the ball
2 - judge the flight of the ball
3 - prepare hands ready to take the catch
4 - catch the ball
5 - see if the catch was successful
Q6.
A skill is a action with the intention of bringing about predetermined results.
Correct Answer: learned, learnt

6 Questions

Q1.
Which is the second stage of the basic information processing model?
An image in a quiz
output
feedback
input
Correct answer: decision making
Q2.
Which of the following will occur in the input stage of catching a ball?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: see the flight of the ball
activate the arm muscles
Correct answer: sort out relevant information
recall from the long-term memory
hear praise from the coach
Q3.
Match the description to the correct stage of the basic information processing model.
Correct Answer:input,information from the display
tick

information from the display

Correct Answer:decision making,selecting a response from short and long-term memory
tick

selecting a response from short and long-term memory

Correct Answer:output,activate muscles to execute an action
tick

activate muscles to execute an action

Correct Answer:feedback,receive information from self and others
tick

receive information from self and others

Q4.
Which is an example of extrinsic feedback?
feeling the movement
seeing the outcome of the skill
Correct answer: praise from coach
Correct answer: comments from a team member
Q5.
Place the stages of catching a tennis ball in the correct order of the basic information processing model.
An image in a quiz
1 - seeing the flight of the ball
2 - recalling how to catch from the long-term memory
3 - activate arm muscles to provide a catch position with the hands
4 - receive information on the success of the catch
Q6.
Information processing is making decisions and gathering from the display and prioritising the most important stimuli to make a suitable decision.
Correct Answer: data, information
Q2 PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/Shutterstock.com