Unpacking the hidden efficacies of learning in productive failure

This paper describes a framework for learning where learners undergo experimentations with the phenomena at hand according to progressive and staged goals. Bowling is used as a case study in this paper. The premise for experimentations is that learners can experience hidden efficacies, including the formation of “bad habits.” A distinction is made between productivity in learning and performance in terms of learning outcomes. In other words, productivity in learning may not necessarily manifest in successful performance, hence the term productive failure. To emphasize the need for self-regulation during problem-solving process, we discuss the movements within the productive–unproductive and success–failure dimensions through three-staged self-regulatory processes and draw implications to learning and instruction.     

An upper limb kinematic model for the examination of cricket bowling: A case study of Mutiah Muralitharan

We show how biomechanics can be used to accurately assess spin-bowling techniques (offspin, legspin and topspin) in cricket, under controlled conditions, when the player is suspected of throwing. A 50 Hz six-camera Vicon Motion Analysis system was used to record the movements of markers strategically placed on the upper limb during each of the above bowling actions. A kinematic model of the upper limb, created using Vicon BodyBuilder® software, enabled the movements of the upper arm and forearm to be described during each delivery. Selected physical characteristics of the upper limb were also measured. The present 'no ball' law in cricket with reference to throwing states that 'the arm should not be straightened in the part of the delivery that immediately precedes ball release'. The bowler, Mutiah Muralitharan, was shown to maintain a relatively constant elbow angle in the 0.06 s before ball release. Furthermore, this angle changed little from the time that the upper arm was angled vertically downward until ball release during the three spin-bowling actions.     

Anthropometric and kinematic influences on release speed in men’s fast-medium bowling

The main aim of this study was to identify significant relationships between selected anthropometric and kinematic variables and ball release speed. Nine collegiate fast-medium bowlers (mean - s : age 21.0 - 0.9 years, body mass 77.2 - 8.1 kg, height 1.83 - 0.1 m) were filmed and reconstructed three-dimensionally. Ball release speeds were measured by a previously validated Speedchek? Personal Sports Radar (Tribar Industries, Canada). Relationships between selected anthropometric variablesand ball release speed and between kinematic variables and ball release speed were investigated using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients ( r ). A significant relationship was found between the horizontal velocity during the pre-delivery stride ( r = 0.728, P ? 0.05) and ball release speed (31.5 - 1.9 m·s -1 ). We believe that the high correlation was due to the bowlers using techniques that allowed them to contribute more of the horizontal velocity created during the run-up to ball release speed. We also found that the angular velocity (40.6 - 3.4 rad·s -1 ) of the right humerus had a low correlation ( r = 0.358, P > 0.05) with ball release speed. Although the action of the wrist was not analysed because of an inadequate frame rate, we found high correlations between ball release speed and shoulder-wrist length (661 - 31 mm; r = 0.626, P ? 0.05) and ball release speed and total arm length (860 - 36 mm; r = 0.583, P ? 0.05). We conclude that the variance in release speed within this group may be accounted for by the difference in radial length between the axis of rotation at the glenohumeral joint and the release point.