The Four Levels of Learning

Since creating my blog, I have had the list titled “The Four Levels of Learning”. I would like to take some time to elaborate on this concept. No matter where we are in life, when we learn something new, we all go through these four stages. This ranges from learning how to ride a bike to receiving a promotion at work that results in a brand new set of responsibilities. This can apply to the learning curve of relocation to the introduction of a new board game. Let me further define each stage:

1. Unconscious Inability
We don’t know that we don’t know. Let’s use the example of learning how to ride a bike. At Level 1, we observe others riding a bike and to us it looks simple.

2. Conscious Inability
Here’s the test, we hop on the bike and fall over. We now know we don’t know. It becomes very apparent that we have yet to develop the skills necessary to successfully ride a bike. We must learn how to get started, stay balanced, steer, brake, turn, and stop with grace.

3. Conscious Ability
We now know we can do it, but it takes quite a bit of concentration. We must think every step through. (This would be where the “training wheel phase” takes place.) We must remember to first put up the kick stand, align the pedals with the right pedal up, place our right foot on the pedal, grip the handle bars, straighten the front wheel, push off, get centered, steady the wheel, etc. And then all the steps required to stop safely – this is quite complex.

4. Unconscious Ability
This level of learning is where we no longer think about the process of riding the bike, we just do it. We see it in the yard, grab it and take off! For those adults out there, think about the last time you drove. Did you walk through each step as you loaded up and drove to your destination?

Some other questions to ponder . . .

o Do you have to think through each step of the process when posting a blog?
o The last time you showered or bathed (which we hope was recently) did you think about how to wash your hair?
o Do you remind yourself to buckle your seat belt?
o When you moved into your current housing, was it difficult remembering which dish went in which cabinet? Is it difficult today?

. . . all newly acquired skills go through these four stages of the learning process, some maybe quicker than others.

An important thing to remember, especially as an adult, is every time we enter into a situation when we are learning something for the first time, we are a Level One learner. . . and that’s okay. It’s when we deceive ourselves and attempt to convey we know it all that we get ourselves in trouble.

Here's to Lifelong Learners!

SM