In this post, I will be describing a model of learning called the conscious competence model. It explains the process and stages of learning a new skill or behaviour. There are many other theories and models of learning out there, but I have found this one to be very simple, straightforward and intuitive, and very useful as a tool to show others how competence in a particular skill may be developed. I have listed the four stages below with a brief description. You go through each stage in turn, and cannot jump stages.
- Unconscious incompetence: In this stage, you are often oblivious (some might say blissfully ignorant) that you don’t understand or know how to do something, because no circumstances have arisen to call on the skill and highlight this deficiency before. You may discern there is a skill lacking but deny its worth or relevance. You must become aware of your own incompetence and appreciate the merits of the new skill, before development of the new skill or learning can begin, thereby progressing to the next stage.
- Conscious incompetence: In this stage, you are mindful you do not understand or know how to do something, and that you need to learn new skills. You realise your deficit is significant, maybe by trying to use the skill itself or recognising others are considerably more competent than you are, effortlessly doing things you struggle with. You start to think it would be valuable to learn this new skill in order to address this deficit and improve your effectiveness in this area. The making of mistakes can be frequent and may be integral to the learning process at this stage as you refine the skill through practice. This stage can be disheartening, causing a loss of confidence or even resulting in you giving up on your learning labours completely.
- Conscious competence: Here, you know you have acquired the skill and knowledge you need, and can perform it without assistance.You put your learning into practice regularly, and you gain in confidence as you use this new skill. However, performing the skill requires concentration and effort, it’s not ‘second nature’ or ‘automatic’ yet. But as you get more practice and experience, the frequency of mistakes begins to decline and it becomes increasingly automatic. Practise is the most effective way to move onto the next stage.
- Unconscious competence: When you get to this stage, you have had so much practice with the skill that you don’t need to think about what to do. It has become ‘second nature’ and can be performed effortlessly with a very low frequency of errors. As a result, the skill can be performed while doing another task because it is not occupying much of your conscious thought. However, in this stage you are vulnerable to complacency, where learning ceases if you fail to practice and exercise new skills; ‘unconscious competence’ may eventually become ignorance of new ways of doing things, and you find yourself unconsciously incompetent once more.
For me, the key points are:
- You have to be realistic about what you can and can’t do in order to get the most out of learning
- Making mistakes is a natural part of learning
- To get better at something, you have to practice it over and over again
- When you have developed a skill to a high standard, do not become complacent about it, otherwise you may find yourself regressing to an earlier stage – keep abreast of any changes or new ways of doing things to make sure your skill stays current.