The effect of cognitive empowermentOn working memory and observational learning of a motor skill in children

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cognitive empowerment on working memory and observational learning of dart throwing skill in children. Forty 10-11 years students were voluntarily and availably selected. This study was performed in two phases. In the first phase, cognitive enhancement was performed and in the second phase observational learning of dart throwing skill was performed. In the first phase, the pre-test was performed and groups were matched based on age and pre-test scores and they were divided into two homogenies groups (n=20) of cognitive exercise and no cognitive exercise. The cognitive group was given 8 sessions (45 minutes) of cognitive empowerment training. Then both groups received cognitive test. The cognitive tests were performed using Corsiblack software to measure working memory. In the second phase of the study, each of the first phase groups were divided into two groups of 10 observational + physical and physical groups. After dart throwing skill pre-test, dart throwing training in the form of observational and physical training was performed( 3 sections of 20 throwing). The observation + physical group in addition to the dart throwing training observe the skilled model of dart throwing through video. Then posttest was performed at the end of the second phase. Cognitive + observational + physical group performed significantly better on the dart post-test than the other groups. Results showed cognitive training also had a significant effect on learning through observation on dart throwing skills.