Levels of Human Learning

Human learning is a process of acquiring knowledge. Our behavior, skills, values and ethics are acquired when we process information through our minds and learn. Human learning may occur as part of education, personal development or any other informal/formal training. Children learn while they play, experiment, and interact. However, the process of learning is a continuous process. We constantly learn, unlearn and relearn through our experiences. To express ideas, to inform people, to communicate, to create etc we need to learn.

It is said that there are four levels of learning. Unconscious Incompetence is a stage where we don’t know what we don’t know. This means that we are not even aware of certain things in this universe. We have no awareness of the existence of certain kind of knowledge. The individual does not understand or know how to do something and does not necessarily recognize this.

The second level is conscious Incompetence. This means we know what we don’t know. There are certain things which exist and which we are aware of however, we consciously know for a fact that we don’t know it. Though the individual does not understand or know how to do something, he or she does recognize this. The making of mistakes can be integral to the learning process at this stage. Example: a person knows that he or she does not know how to drive.

The third level of learning is conscious competence. Here individuals are aware of the learning that has taken place. We know what we know. The individual understands or knows how to do something. Execution of the skill plays an important part in this learning process. It requires a lot of concentration. Example: An individual knows for a fact that he or she can cook and when they do that, they must perform the process with concentration.

The fourth level of the learning process is unconscious competence. This means that we don’t know what we know. Sometimes, we as individuals have had so much practice with a particular skill that it almost becomes our second nature. And this we can perform with utmost ease. As a result, the skill can be performed while doing other things as well. These skills may be taught to other individuals as well, depending upon how and when it was learned.

Apart from the process of human learning and the stages of human learning, spirituality and being conscious of your inner self is also learning in itself. Human beings must learn and be aware of their soul and must identify peace within themselves. This is a continuous learning process. Practicing meditation helps you to learn about your feelings, emotions, and other inner attributes. Even Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs talks about the last stage of need which is Self Actualization. According to him, one reaches that stage after all basic; safety and luxury needs are fulfilled. Human learning, above all, has to do with adaptive behavior. With time, humans need to learn, unlearn and relearn to become their perceived ideal self. However, realizing the inner self is the biggest learning for most humans.

Socialization

BY SUSHANT

We are born without a culture or knowledge of our surroundings. It is in the family which we are born in that gives us a unique and distinct identity. Socialization is the general process of acquiring culture. Our family, traditions lend us a social identity. When socializing we learn our language, customs and more. For instance, girls learn how to be daughters, sisters, friends, wives, and mothers. In addition, they learn about the occupational roles that their society has in store for them.

Socialization is important in the process of personality formation. Human personality is the result of our genes; however the socialization process can mold it in a particular direction that is desirable. By encouraging specific beliefs and attitudes as well as selectively providing experiences, socializing reaches its goal post. This makes all the difference between the common personality types in one society in comparison to another.

Successful socialization results in uniformity within a society. If all children receive the same socialization, it is likely that they will share the same beliefs and expectations. This has played an important role in stringing the fact that most national governments around the world try to standardize education and make it compulsory for all children. Deciding what things will be taught and how they are taught is a powerful political tool for controlling people. Those who internalize the norms of society are less likely to break the law or to want radical social changes. In all societies, however, there are individuals who do not conform to culturally defined standards of normalcy because they were abnormally socialized, which is to say that they have not internalized the norms of society.

Socialization is a learning process that begins shortly after birth. Early childhood is the period of the most intense and the most crucial socialization. It is then that we acquire the most important part of communication- our language and learn the fundamentals of our culture. It is also when much of our personality takes shape. However, we continue to be socialized throughout our lives. As we age, we enter new status and we need to learn and be in an appropriate place.

When you socialize with people, you gain abundant insight into the working of the world. You will be able to predict people’s mood, their nature after having socialized with them.

Socialized lets you adapt to a certain environment or crowd. It helps you to adjust and feel at ease.