I’ve always loved this simple model to explain learning and it seems a particularly appropriate topic for this group.
Here’s how it works.
Every skill begins with unconscious incompetence. This means that you don’t know how to do something but don’t realize it yet. An example would be driving a car. As a kid it looks easy, but the first time behind the wheel you’re terrified. This is about the time you slip into the next phase of learning.
Once you’ve figured out that you actually don’t know how to do a task you enter the state of conscious incompetence. This means that you can’t do it and you know it. Once in this state, you may enroll in driving school and begin to learn how to drive. This leads you to the next state.
While learning a task you’re in a state of conscious competence. This means that you now know how to do something but it’s hard and you need to think about it a lot. Eventually, the task your learning becomes second nature.
After practicing a task for a while you enter the state of unconscious competence. This means that you know the task so well you can now do it without having to think about it.
My advice? Acknowledge where you are in the learning process and give yourself the time required to move through each state.
I’ll see you in the classroom,
—Brian