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I like the four stages of competence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_stages_of_competence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_stages_of_competence) which rea
by plasma 7y ago
I like the four stages of competence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_stages_of_competence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_stages_of_competence) which reads:
1. Unconscious incompetence
The individual does not understand or know how to do something and does not necessarily recognize the deficit. They may deny the usefulness of the skill. The individual must recognize their own incompetence, and the value of the new skill, before moving on to the next stage. The length of time an individual spends in this stage depends on the strength of the stimulus to learn.[5]
2. Conscious incompetence
Though the individual does not understand or know how to do something, they recognize the deficit, as well as the value of a new skill in addressing the deficit. The making of mistakes can be integral to the learning process at this stage.
3. Conscious competence
The individual understands or knows how to do something. However, demonstrating the skill or knowledge requires concentration. It may be broken down into steps, and there is heavy conscious involvement in executing the new skill.[5]
4. Unconscious competence
The individual has had so much practice with a skill that it has become "second nature" and can be performed easily. As a result, the skill can be performed while executing another task. The individual may be able to teach it to others, depending upon how and when it was learned.
- Stratoscope 7y agoThis reminds me of a saying we had in high school: Freshmen know not, and know not that they know not. Sophomores know not, and know that they know not. Juniors know, and know not that they know. Seniors know, and know that they know.
- cr0sh 7y agoThen you graduate, grow older, perhaps go on to university, grow older still, perhaps marry and have kids, continue to grow older, and if you're lucky... ...you realize that you still "know not that you know not, know that you know not, know not that you know, and know that you know" about most everything. Thus becoming humble and wise...?
- birdyrooster 7y agoNope it just stops at know that you know, and then you are a brilliant leader with unconscious competence. People will go on national television to explain how you are so brilliant that you don’t even need to think about it to make the best and most great decisions.
- clwk 7y agoThe version of this I first heard in school was: He knows not and knows not that he knows not is fool. Shun him. He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a student. Teach him. He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep. Wake him. He who knows and knows that he knows is wise. Follow him.
- perl4ever 7y agoSomeone said that the wise (person) knows that they know nothing. I'd prefer to say wisdom is knowing what you know and what you don't, and it's much harder and more valuable than you might think.
- ravenstine 7y ago> 4. Unconscious competence This can end up being an uncomfortable position when people ask you to explain exactly why you made a decision, and even though you probably could explain it with some effort, it's difficult because you made your choice based on experience-derived intuition. Being at the conscious competence stage may actually require less work in general, unless one gets to work with other unconscious competent people.
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- koonsolo 7y agoI have this a bit with the Object Oriented Programming principles. The code structure just needs to feel right. It's hard to throw principles at it to show which structure is better. To me it always feels like there are so many aspects to take into account, that cannot just be expressed by priciples. Some code feels right, and some doesn't. Sometimes extending code "falls into place" and confirms that your previous reasoning was the right one. And other times it just remains a complex mess ;).
- Swizec 7y agoThis is why language tests like TOEFL and IELTS have 2 levels of mastery above native language speaker. When you're a native English speaker, you're in the unconscious mastery phase for the most part. Things feel right or wrong. The 2 levels above are being able to explain why. That's when you're at the "able to teach English" level. I think the same applies to code. You can be very very good at something, but true mastery is being able to impart that knowledge on others as well.
- klank 7y ago> You can be very very good at something, but true mastery is being able to impart that knowledge on others as well. Is that true though? How do we know that the ability to teach is not a unique skill in and of itself rather than just an extension of one's "mastery"? Anecdotally, I've engaged with "masters" of various fields as different as blacksmithing to theoretical physics. Of these "masters", I've encountered good teachers and bad. But I've not personally felt any correlation between their mastery of the subject (i.e. their ability to produce results in the area) vs. their ability to teach the area.
- threatofrain 7y agoDoes this follow for the journey in math? * https://terrytao.wordpress.com/career-advice/theres-more-to-mathematics-than-rigour-and-proofs/ https://terrytao.wordpress.com/career-advice/theres-more-to-...
- agumonkey 7y agoI'd gladly add another concept: how to quickly navigate into unknown territory. Experts might not know everything, but they can analyze a new situation quickly due to accumulation of concepts and overcoming new situations over the years. ps: and ultimately, when I compare my younger self to me right now (in music) .. the only difference, is a subtle blend of patience and sensitivity. When you don't know you try small things without waiting too long or digging too deep. A newcomer may often go paralysed or stuck on the wrong intuition.
- CPLX 7y agoThis model has always had the ring of truth to it, to me. One amusing state you can add when you get old is something like this: 5) Semi-conscious semi-competence The individual used to be an actual expert in something, but so many years have passed that they are only semi-competent. Yet they retain the manners and affectations of someone who is a true expert. This state tends to confuse and alarm others who are themselves competent and can’t figure out exactly what you are.
- perl4ever 7y agoWell, then there is a fifth stage where an experienced person does something a person in stage 2-3 would probably not, because they have enough experience to be overconfident. Thinking of skydiving accidents.