According to Fitts and Posner, what are the four stages of skill acquisition?

The correct answer identifies the three widely recognized stages of skill acquisition as proposed by Fitts and Posner: Cognitive, Associative, and Autonomous. In this model, the Cognitive stage is where the learner first understands the task and begins to figure out how to perform it, often through conscious thought and feedback. As the learner progresses to the Associative stage, they refine their skills, working on timing and consistency while receiving less guidance. Finally, in the Autonomous stage, skills become automatic, allowing the learner to perform them without conscious thought, often while multitasking or under pressure.

The inclusion of "Verbally guided" in that option refers to a method of providing instructions or feedback during the learning stages, supporting effective skill acquisition throughout the Cognitive and Associative stages. However, it is not considered a formal stage of learning itself according to Fitts and Posner.

The other answer choices either combine stages incorrectly or mislabel them, which strays from the established framework leading to confusion. Understanding the definition and characteristics of each stage allows for a better grasp of how skills are developed over time, which is crucial in instructional settings.