How Movement Habits Become Relevant in Novel Learning Situations

Purpose: To (a) present a theoretical framework that describes how learners’ movement habits become relevant in the development of movement capability and (b) present data that illustrate how this process occurs in practice. Method: An investigation with preservice physical education teachers was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved examining participants’ movement habits, and the second phase involved examining the participants’ development of novel capabilities in the context of unicycling. Results: Empirical materials from two participants are presented as case studies. The cases demonstrate how different sets of movement habits interact with novel tasks, making the demand for creative action more or less likely. The cases also demonstrate how subjective and physical elements are interwoven. Finally, the cases provide insights into potentially productive habits for movement learning. Discussion/Conclusion: The paper is concluded with pedagogical implications, including a consideration of how crises might be managed in educational contexts.