Experiential Learning by Nick Davis

 EDAC 634 Assignment 4

 

Goal: To Teach Junior Varsity Pitchers How to Throw a Changeup.

 

Objectives: Upon completion of this, players should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the changeup grip on a baseball.
2. Apply the teaching by throwing changeups in the bullpen.
3. Use bullpen session and performance of the pitch to adjust the grip or release point if necessary.

 

Rationales: The ideas of Dewey, Boud, Keogh and Walker, along with reflective practices as well as the constructive perspective will be used to guide this course.

1. Dewey believed people learn from life experience and connecting to past positive experience.
2. Boud, Keough and Walker focus on feelings and how negative feelings can be a barrier to learning.
3. Reflective practices make judgments on past experiences after spending time reflecting upon them.
4. The Constructive perspective uses concrete experiences to reflect on as an aid to learning.

 

Design:

 

ACTIVITY	RATIONALE
Each player will carry a baseball with them daily to practice the changeup grip and become comfortable with it.	The changeup grip is extremely difficult to become comfortable with. Practicing this grip will lead to self-confidence prior to practicing this in the bullpen; bringing Dewey’s belief into practice.
Watch Coach Dan Blewett’s video on how to throw a changeup along with taking notes on coaching from the pitching staff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbaNu2PJMZ8&t=117s

Practice throwing changeups in the bullpen.

Watching this video will allow the players to see how the pitch is supposed to perform, giving them concrete evidence of the changeup’s behavior. Utilizing the changeup grip and throwing the pitch in the bullpen will allow the players to throw the pitch live and reflect on how their pitch acts when they throw it. Here is where Boud’s, Keough and Walker’s theory comes into play as pitchers can become frustrated and their negative feelings could cause them to “check out” during the adjustment phase if they are necessary.

Make any adjustments necessary.

Reflecting upon their performance, adjustments could be made to the arm path, grip or release point of the pitch based upon the constructivist perspective and seeing how the changeup performed during their bullpen session.

 

References:

 

Merriam, S., & Baumgartner, L. (2020). Learning in adulthood (4th ed.) (pp. 196-227). Jossey-Bass.

Blewett, D. (Director). (2023). How to Throw a Change Up-The Grip You Haven't Tried [Motion Picture]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbaNu2PJMZ8&t=94s