How do you know you are ready?

Learning Stage Descriptions as described by Mountain Training from Fitts & Posner (1967)

Cognitive or Understanding Phase (Learning Stage 1)

In the first stage of learning performances are inconsistent and success is not guaranteed. Performing the skill requires all of the candidate’s attention and so they rely on the trainer for cues. This is a process of trial and error. Correct performances must be reinforced through external feedback.

Associative or Verbal Motor Phase (Learning Stage 2)

Performances are becoming more consistent as knowledge and skills are being formed. While the simpler parts of the performance now look fluent and are well learned, the more complex elements require most of the candidate’s spare attention. The candidate is starting to get a sense of internal 'kinaesthetic' and ‘cognitive’ feedback when they perform or apply a skill well. They are starting to detect and correct their own errors.

Autonomous or Motor Phase (Learning Stage 3)

In the final stage of learning, performances have become consistent, fluid and ‘unconsciously competent’. The knowledge and skills involved are well learned and stored in the long-term memory. There is now spare attention which can be focused on group members and adapting appropriate leadership approaches and techniques as applied to situations. To retain the new skill at this level, it must be regularly practiced to reinforce the motor and cognitive programmes.

Where do you think you should be to do your assessment?

Key points;

• Be honest with yourself about where you are in the learning phases
• Use learning stages to measure progress and support your action plan