How do we know when we have learned a new skill?

The Fitts & Posner Model of skill learning states that people pass through three stages when learning a skill:

1.       The Verbal-Cognitive Stage

People begin learning a skill by verbally describing the skill in their own minds in order to perform the techniques correctly. This stage requires a lot of thinking, creating mental associations, and piecing together familiar and unfamiliar habits.

2.       The Motor Stage

When a person passes the verbal-cognitive stage, the quality of their practice changes: some of their movements turn automatic; they concentrate less on the sequence of movements; and they pay more attention to the quality and consistency of their technique. They also begin to detect mistakes.

3.       The Autonomous Stage

Finally, when a person is able to perform the technique consistently, and correct any mistakes, they are free to focus on learning other techniques, and hence begin to construct more complex skills. At this stage they are also develop self-motivation, as they explore a vast space of combinations.

Reference

Fitts, P. and Posner, M., 1979. Human Performance. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.