The teaching and learning of health and safety processes can be a difficult task no matter whether you are the teacher or the pupil. As the teacher, it is up to you to try to make it as easy to comprehend as possible and one way of doing this is to use the Conscious Competence Ladder (CCL).
Introducing the Conscious Competence Ladder
The CCL splits people into four degrees of learning and introduces a range of learning routines for students at each different level of ability.
First Stage
This level is known as unconscious incompetence. The student is unmindful to the degree of what they still have to learn and don't think they need to obtain further information in the subject; they may also hold no regard for health and safety.
Stage 2
This stage is known as conscious incompetence. The student is now able to view what they still have to learn and although they may struggle with the feeling of frustration about this, they will start to show some regard to health and safety guidelines.
Stage 3
Stage three is conscious competence and people at this level will hold high comprehension of health and safety matters and will be engaging with associated practices.
Stage 4
This stage is known as unconscious competence. The pupil is now at ease with the methods and implications of health and safety and is readily putting them into action on a daily basis. By the time they reach this stage of the CCL, it becomes so much a second-nature that they do it without realising.
Mistakes
Along the learning curve people will make mistakes and depending on which level they are at should dictate how you deal with them. It is important to remember that those who are at the 'unconscious' stages of the CCL are not aware that they do not know so may need to be treated more carefully than those further along the ladder.
Learning Process
Although all learning can be difficult, those who are at the second stage of conscious incompetence can be the pupils who are most likely to be put off. They are aware of their limitations and will focus on what they have not achieved rather than what they have already accomplished. Try extra tuition or a plan for helping them to manage their time and the different aspects of health and safety.
Confidence
Make sure that even once students start to get towards the final stages of the ladder they are reassured of their learning. At the same time it is important that once they are feeling more confident with health and safety they do not overcompensate and forget their skills, more-so they should be encouraged to continue practicing within their environment.
Knowledge
It is vital that once students achieve the stage of unconscious competence, they do not take their new skills for granted. This can be easily done especially once they don't even realise they are carrying out the health and safety checks in the first place! Encourage them to continue to put them into practice consciously and they will continue to learn without being actively taught.
Introducing the Conscious Competence Ladder
The CCL splits people into four degrees of learning and introduces a range of learning routines for students at each different level of ability.
First Stage
This level is known as unconscious incompetence. The student is unmindful to the degree of what they still have to learn and don't think they need to obtain further information in the subject; they may also hold no regard for health and safety.
Stage 2
This stage is known as conscious incompetence. The student is now able to view what they still have to learn and although they may struggle with the feeling of frustration about this, they will start to show some regard to health and safety guidelines.
Stage 3
Stage three is conscious competence and people at this level will hold high comprehension of health and safety matters and will be engaging with associated practices.
Stage 4
This stage is known as unconscious competence. The pupil is now at ease with the methods and implications of health and safety and is readily putting them into action on a daily basis. By the time they reach this stage of the CCL, it becomes so much a second-nature that they do it without realising.
Mistakes
Along the learning curve people will make mistakes and depending on which level they are at should dictate how you deal with them. It is important to remember that those who are at the 'unconscious' stages of the CCL are not aware that they do not know so may need to be treated more carefully than those further along the ladder.
Learning Process
Although all learning can be difficult, those who are at the second stage of conscious incompetence can be the pupils who are most likely to be put off. They are aware of their limitations and will focus on what they have not achieved rather than what they have already accomplished. Try extra tuition or a plan for helping them to manage their time and the different aspects of health and safety.
Confidence
Make sure that even once students start to get towards the final stages of the ladder they are reassured of their learning. At the same time it is important that once they are feeling more confident with health and safety they do not overcompensate and forget their skills, more-so they should be encouraged to continue practicing within their environment.
Knowledge
It is vital that once students achieve the stage of unconscious competence, they do not take their new skills for granted. This can be easily done especially once they don't even realise they are carrying out the health and safety checks in the first place! Encourage them to continue to put them into practice consciously and they will continue to learn without being actively taught.
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