At seven years of age, Krista is learning to type on a computer keyboard. According to the work of Fitts and Posner (1967), the cognitive phase of Krista's skill acquisition is best characterized when she
A) can type rapidly while listening to music.
B) can type quickly while looking at the keyboard.
C) has to pause to find each individual letter on the keyboard.
D) is able to type without looking, as long as there are no distractions.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During the cognitive phase of skill acquisition, the learner is still figuring out how to perform the skill and must consciously think through each step. Krista having to pause to find each individual letter on the keyboard is indicative of this phase. Rapid typing while listening to music (choice A) would be more characteristic of the associative phase, while quick typing while looking at the keyboard (choice B) would suggest some progress but not full mastery. Typing without looking but only if there are no distractions (choice D) would be more indicative of the autonomous phase.

At Seven Years of Age, Krista Is Learning to Type