Stages of Learning
Oct 04, 2019
This is true from the greatest achievements of the world,
to even the smallest of achievements.
Do you remember feeling like you would never get a certain math concept? Or maybe finish an essay? I remember wanting to throw my computer out of the window a few times trying to get through some college assignments, lol.
What about learning to ride a bike without training wheels? This list could go on and on. But, with persistence, we can achieve any goal.
When I was in management training years ago, I learned a concept called the 4 Stages of Learning. Management trainer Martin M. Broadwell described the model as the 4 levels of teaching in 1969.
THE 4 STAGES OF LEARNING
Unconscious Incompetence
This is the stage of learning when you don’t know what you don’t know.
Conscious Incompetence
The second stage shifts into becoming aware of what you don’t know.
Conscious Competence
We then move into knowing, but we have to focus to be able to practice what we know.
Unconscious Competence
This is when you are so familiar with the task, that you do not even have to think about it to do it.
Stage one can be blissful because you aren't even aware of what it is that you don't know. If you've never seen a bike you don't know that you have to peddle, steer, or apply the brakes.
In the early part of stage two is when you first see a bike and you realize you have to learn how to ride it. This stage is generally not too stressful; however, you can start to become overwhelmed thinking about learning something new.
Until you learn to ride the bike without falling, you are filled with thoughts about failure and discouragement about ever getting it right. Stage three is all about practice and perseverance so you can reach stage four.
Once you've reached stage four, you can ride a bike anytime without even thinking about it.
These stages are true with everything we learn. With enough practice and exposure to anything, we can get there. We need to be gentle with ourselves, understand that it is a process, and keep moving forward.
