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Year 11
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Types of guidance

I can understand and explain the different types of guidance in skill learning: visual, verbal, manual, and mechanical

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Year 11
OCR

Types of guidance

I can understand and explain the different types of guidance in skill learning: visual, verbal, manual, and mechanical

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Guidance can be given visually, where learners observe a demonstration or video.
  2. Verbal guidance involves instructing learners through spoken words to improve their understanding.
  3. Manual guidance assists movement physically, helping learners to feel the correct action.
  4. Mechanical guidance uses objects or aids to support learners in performing a skill correctly.

Keywords

  • Guidance - a method to convey information to a performer to aid skill learning

  • Visual guidance - showing the learner how to perform a skill through demonstrations or videos

  • Verbal guidance - explaining the skill to the learner through spoken instructions

  • Manual guidance - physically moving or supporting the learner to help them perform the skill

  • Mechanical guidance - using equipment or aids to assist the learner in performing the skill

Common misconception

Pupils may believe that only one type of guidance can be used at any time.

Combinations of guidance can be very effective and are common in good coaching. For example, visual demonstrations are often combined with verbal explanations.

Ensure students are able to discuss both the advantages/disadvantages of each type of guidance and then explain the impact on the learner. For example, verbal guidance may use too much technical language (disadvantage) which inexperienced learners may not understand (impact).
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equipment-required

Equipment

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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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to its definition
Correct Answer:visual,relating to sight
tick

relating to sight

Correct Answer:verbal,relating to the use of words
tick

relating to the use of words

Correct Answer:mechanical ,relating to something performed by a machine
tick

relating to something performed by a machine

Correct Answer:manual,relating to something done with the hands
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relating to something done with the hands

Q2.
Being given a verbal instruction would mean...
someone showing you what to do
someone physically moving you into position
someone asking you what to do
Correct answer: someone telling you what to do
Q3.
labour is the name for work done by human hands and not by machines.
Correct Answer: manual
Q4.
When you 'visualise' something, it means you...
imagine what it would feel like
imagine what it would sound like
Correct answer: imagine what would look like
imagine what it would smell like
Q5.
What is the best thing your PE teacher can do in a lesson to help you to visualise what to do?
tell you what to do
Correct answer: show you a demonstration
leave you to work it out yourself
organise a drill
Q6.
Match the following words to the definition
Correct Answer:feedback,information received during/after a performance about the performance
tick

information received during/after a performance about the performance

Correct Answer:guidance,conveying information to learners to aid the learning of a skill
tick

conveying information to learners to aid the learning of a skill

Correct Answer:goal setting,setting a target to improve or optimise performance in future
tick

setting a target to improve or optimise performance in future

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the type of guidance with the definition.
Correct Answer:visual guidance,showing the learner how to perform a skill through demonstrations
tick

showing the learner how to perform a skill through demonstrations

Correct Answer:verbal guidance,explaining the skill to the learner through spoken instructions
tick

explaining the skill to the learner through spoken instructions

Correct Answer:manual guidance,physically moving or supporting the learner to help them
tick

physically moving or supporting the learner to help them

Correct Answer:mechanical guidance,using equipment or aids to assist the learner in performing the skill
tick

using equipment or aids to assist the learner in performing the skill

Q2.
What types of guidance are particularly concerned with keeping learners safe?
visual
verbal
Correct answer: manual
Correct answer: Mechanical
Q3.
Too much verbal guidance could lead to information...
Correct Answer: overload, over load
Q4.
Match the advantage to the type of guidance.
Correct Answer:Visual guidance,can be shown to lots of people at the same time to save time
tick

can be shown to lots of people at the same time to save time

Correct Answer:Verbal guidance,works well with experienced performers who understand the terminology
tick

works well with experienced performers who understand the terminology

Correct Answer:Manual guidance,learner gets a ‘feel’ for the movement
tick

learner gets a ‘feel’ for the movement

Q5.
Which of the following is not a benefit of mechanical guidance?
Correct answer: increases danger
increase confidence
improves balance
Q6.
A trampoline __________ is an example of mechanical guidance used to keep learners safe while learning to somersault.
Correct Answer: harness