Dreyfus skill acquisition model

The Dreyfus skill acquisition model describes the progression of an individual from a novice to an expert in a particular domain. It suggests that skill acquisition involves moving through five distinct stages:

1. Novice: Novices rely on rules and guidelines to complete jobs since they have little experience. They need specific guidance and can’t manage challenging or unexpected tasks on their own.
2. Advanced Beginner: Advanced beginners gain a bit more experience and start recognizing recurring patterns. They can perform tasks with less guidance but still lack deep understanding.
3. Competent: Competent people are better at making decisions based on their past experiences and have greater knowledge. They understand the subject thoroughly and are skilled at finding solutions to issues.
4. Proficient: People who are proficient in a field have a comprehensive grasp of it and are able to draw conclusions intuitively. They are more adept at seeing the “big picture” and may change their actions depending on the situation.
5. Expert: The final stage of the model. Experts are able to complete tasks with ease, generate thoughtful conclusions, and offer original solutions. Experts frequently make decisions based on intuition and may not be able to clearly explain how they arrived at such decisions.

At its core, the Dreyfus model presents a process of skill development and mastery from scratch. The transition between the stages involves the ability to move from the clear rules in the beginning stage to actions based on intuitive knowledge. In other words, the more you act intuitively, the less you act systematically, which indicates that control and knowledge are another name for expertise.