It develops incrementally as the learner faces and conquers challenges, and as they successfully incorporate new skills into their knowledge base. With each triumphant application of a new skill, the learner develops more faith in their ability. They are more confident in their competence. Learning that is progressive, with one skill building on another, enables the development of confidence that is solidly based in the learner’s competence, rather than in external encouragement and fleeting motivation.
Clarity is the first requirement for progressive learning. When learning objectives are clear and a complex skill is reduced to a series of attainable steps, the learner experiences regular successes that strengthen their confidence in their motivation and their ability to learn. Their early wins serve as proof to themselves that their efforts are effective. When they feel in control of their learning, they feel more secure and are likely to take on even bigger challenges.
The second requirement for progressive learning is the balance of challenge and skill. When the challenge is too easy, the learner is likely to feel bored and may sell themselves short. When the challenge is too great, the learner may feel frustrated and defeated. In progressive learning, the level of difficulty is carefully managed so that each challenge is a bit beyond the current skill level of the learner. The scope and complexity of the challenges steadily increases, and with each mastery, the learner’s confidence grows.
The third requirement for progressive learning is support and feedback. The learner needs ongoing feedback that helps them understand what works and what doesn’t, why one approach succeeded while another failed. When feedback is used appropriately, it is a learning tool rather than a judgment. The learner develops confidence, not only in their current ability, but also in their ability to learn from their experience, to problem solve, and to adjust their approach as needed when faced with new challenges.
Through progressive learning, confidence becomes a learned behavior. The learner develops the confidence to trust their judgment, to take on complex challenges, and to persist in solving problems. With clarity, balanced challenge, feedback, and practice, the learner develops a virtuous cycle of learning that is characterized by growing competence and confidence. Eventually, this sense of confidence generalizes beyond the context of the individual skill, becoming an attitude that enables the learner to approach new challenges with confidence in their ability.