Search by Keyword
2. Stages of Learning
The Four Stages of Learning, also known as the Four Stages of Competence, is a psychological model that describes the process individuals go through when acquiring a new knowledge or skills. The model provides a framework for understanding how people progress from complete ignorance to mastery of a subject or ability.
The four stages, moving up from the bottom of the graphic.
1. Unconscious Incompetence
We are unaware of our deficiency and must become conscious of it before learning can begin.
2. Conscious Incompetence
We feel uncomfortable as we begin to realize how little we know. We recognize the need to improve and make a commitment to learn by remembering “rules”.
3. Conscious Competence
We start to comprehend the principles behind the systems and techniques we use. Our confidence increases as we continue to learn and improve.
4. Unconscious Competence
Skills become second nature. We can perform without thinking.
Once we have mastered a skill we are able to analyze and evaluate it, to improvise, to improve old systems and to develop new solutions to problems.
Beware of Cognitive Biases
In the process of acquiring new knowledge or skills, it’s essential to remain mindful of cognitive biases that can skew understanding and hinder growth.
Biases like confirmation bias, where we favor information aligning with existing beliefs while dismissing contradictory evidence, can impede objective learning. Similarly, the availability heuristic may cause learners to overvalue easily accessible information, limiting a deeper exploration of perspectives.
By consciously navigating these biases, learners can cultivate a more comprehensive understanding and enhance their ability to effectively acquire and apply new knowledge and skills.
Review the following related information before proceeding.
The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people overestimate their knowledge or ability in a specific area. This tends to occur because a lack of self-awareness prevents them from accurately assessing their own skills.
Memorizing a few rules might serve you well when you are just getting started, but ultimately you will encounter situations where the ability to discern when one technique or system is appropriate and when it is not will be critical.
Heuristics are intuitive mental shortcuts used to make decisions and judgments. When one or more of these mental shortcut gives us a grossly inaccurate perception of a hazard, we fall into what is known as a heuristic trap.