Study on imitation learning

Science Daily printed an article in March 2007 that I kept so that I could comment on it. "The study provides a first detailed look into explicit learning of sequential, non-verbal material. ... Researchers have paid little attention to imitation learning, even though such learning is crucial to just about everything we do, from sports to regaining mobility after a stroke or accident." It goes on to say that the study showed that we learn much better just by watching than previously thought. "The study evalualted participants' ability to view, remember and then reproduce a complex sequence of motions generated by the random, unpredictable movements of a disc. Even a single repetition of a motion sequence substantially reduced errors in reproduction."

That last sentence is salient. Since I speak and teach American Sign Language (ASL), I find it very important for a student or master to physically repeat the motions of skilled signers. I used to think otherwise, but some young friends of mine, years ago, would always copy the sign language on the VCR tape we were viewing. I did not, being older, perhaps lazier. But now years later when I think of these girls signing along with the video I realize they have all become very skilled signers. They are far above average. Part of that I attribute to youth, but just maybe that copying of the Video tape heightened there learning skills. I recommend this copying to all students of American Sign Language (ASL)