Simply put, skill acquisition is exactly what it sounds like: learning to do things. There is one important caveat – you want to learn to do things well. Conventional theory holds that when skills are acquired through external instruction, the learner goes through five phases: Novice, Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient, and Expert. This model, first proposed in 1980 is known as the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition. This process requires the learner to migrate from adhering to a strict set of governing rules (for a particular skill) to developing a tacit understanding of the underlying principles of the skill.
Skill acquisition is important because the skills we attain throughout our lives contribute to our overall human capital (our undefinable intrinsic value as a person). Acquiring skills can help us to advance in life. Some examples of skills are: foreign languages, culinary arts, advanced mathematics, athletic abilities, computer languages, and the list goes on.
Since 1980, a lot has happened. With regard to skill acquisition, the necessity of an external instructor has somewhat diminished. While external instruction might increase the rate at which a skill is learned, self-taught skills are becoming commonplace. One example can be found in computer science. Sites like W3Schools provide detailed instruction pertaining to current web development technology. This site alone has replaced the need for many basic web development classes, and the information is available for free to the user. Websites like this make me so happy to be alive during the age of the internet.
Acquiring any skill is a form of education. The recent economic collapse has caused a marked rise in unemployment. As a reaction to the tightening job market, many college graduates have gone on to pursue higher education. The idea: acquire more skills to raise your human capital.
Everyone should take advantage of the chance to learn for free. Most recently, I learned to program in Java. There is a free course online which is available through one of the top universities in the world (how to get a free education from a top University will be covered in another post).I found the experience challenging and enjoyable. I’ve yet to decide what to learn next, though I expect to stay in the computer realm for a while.
One important side note is that acquiring a skill is much easier when you are excited about it. For example: my parents sent me to piano lessons when I was a child. For a few years, my ability to play did not progress much because I viewed the piano as a chore. However, as I got older, I learned to appreciate and enjoy the piano, at which point, my skill level began to rise much faster. Learning something you enjoy is always ten times easier.
Acquiring skills will be the subject of many posts for this blog. However, a constant theme will be the use of modern technology to aid in learning. Future posts on skill acquisition will share my methods of learning in the hopes that other people will benefit like I have.
By learning a new skill, you are forcing yourself to practice the most important skill: learning. The ability to “teach yourself” is perhaps the most invaluable skill you can attain. If you go to YouYube and type in the search bar “teach yourself,” you will find tutorial videos for dozens of skills including various foreign languages, computer skills, musical instruments, and even nail art! In the age of the internet, the public library of information can be found right on your own computer.
This is an ingenious analysis of the “tool belt theory”. It is a As we learn skills, they get stored in our tool belt. When an occasion arises we pull the tool out and put it to use. Hopefully we have a tool to fit every occasion and hopefully we have maintained the tool to still work. The “tool belt “analogy” is often used to teach children to call upon their talents to solve problems or to play a sport. For example, in teaching football to Pop Warner linemen, the tool belt contained various types of blocks including, solid, cross, trap, reach, hinge etc. The analogy can be used for any type situation.