ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Dreyfus model of skill acquisition

Imagine you’re learning how to ride a bike. At first, you don’t really know what to do. You might wobble and fall over a lot. But as you keep practicing, you start to get better. Soon you’ll be able to ride without help or training wheels. That’s kind of like what the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition is all about!

The Dreyfus model is a way of thinking about how people learn new skills. The model says that there are different stages that people go through as they learn a new skill. There are five stages in total, and each one builds on the one before it. Just like when you were learning how to ride a bike, you start with no knowledge or experience and build up to being an expert.

Here are the stages, explained in a way that a 5-year-old might understand:

1. Novice: This is the very beginning stage, when you don’t know anything about the skill you’re trying to learn. If you’re learning to ride a bike, you might not even be able to get on it yet. You need a lot of guidance and instruction at this stage.

2. Advanced beginner: Once you’ve gotten the hang of the basics, you move on to this stage. You might be able to ride your bike with some assistance, but you’re not very confident yet. You’re starting to understand the rules and principles of the skill.

3. Competent: By this point, you’ve gotten a lot of practice in and you’re feeling pretty good about your abilities. You can ride your bike on your own and follow traffic rules. You’re able to solve simple problems that come up.

4. Proficient: You’re getting really good at this skill now! You can ride your bike like a pro and do some cool tricks. You’re able to adapt to new situations and make decisions quickly.

5. Expert: You’ve become a master at this skill. You know everything there is to know about riding a bike (or whatever skill you’ve been working on). You can teach others how to do it, and you’re constantly learning new things.

So, that’s the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition. It’s a way of thinking about how people learn new things, and how they progress from knowing nothing to being an expert. Whether you’re learning to ride a bike or learning a more complex skill, it’s helpful to know where you are in the process so you can keep improving.