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Breaking down the different stages of learning can be really helpful when we’re trying to work out where we are and how far we can go. It can be quite scary to look at the big goal - perhaps professional web designer with a large portfolio of clients who rely on our expertise, when it’s as much as we can do to remember the names of the software we’ll be using to learn!

We’re going to look at four levels of understanding. Whenever we take on something new, we all go through these stages, and recognising them helps us to measure ourselves and our progress.

Unconscious Incompetent, Conscious Incompetent, Conscious Competent, Unconscious Competent.

Career changers often start at stage one - Unconscious Incompetent. This is when we know we want to change, but we don’t yet know what we don’t know, what we need to know, how to learn it or where it might lead us! Sounds pretty desperate, but the important thing is knowing we want to change - everything else can be taught.

The essential thing is to get advice. By talking things through with an experienced advisor, the stage one person can discover what’s involved in the process; find out where they want to go and what they need to learn.

Conscious Incompetent - this is stage two. Now we’re probably at the start of our training course. Having been taught the various options, we’ve chosen our career path, and we know what we have to learn - or to put it another way, we’re conscious of what we don’t yet know, or what incompetences we currently have.

Understanding this is important, to have the wisdom of knowing where we are. Grasping conscious incompetence means that we don’t get quite so frustrated in the early stages of our learning - it’s possible we’re not very good at it (especially if it’s been a while since we were at school…) but we know we’ll get better. Modern interactive learning accelerates this process, so we won’t be at this stage for long.

Stage three is Conscious Competent. We’re in the flow of the learning environment, and are picking things up much faster. We still have to consciously think about what we’re doing all the time, but we’re able to learn competently. We’ll probably complete our studies and successfully pass our exams whilst in this learning stage, which is likely to also extend into our working life too.

Remember when we learned to drive a car? We’d got to conscious competency by test time - good enough to pass the exam but still consciously aware of every manoeuvre. It wasn’t until we gained more experience to consolidate the knowledge that we moved into stage four.

In the computer world, before we become Unconsciously Competent we’ll most likely be several years into our working experience. At that stage, we know what we need to know, and no longer have to consciously think about why we do something. Although school’s never out for the pro, (and the joy in IT is there’s always more to learn) getting to this lofty height of understanding makes all the hard work worth it.

(C) 2009. Hop over to LearningLolly.com for excellent advice on Adobe CS4 Design Workflow and Adobe CS4 Design Workflow Training.

I recall when I used to sit at the back of the class thinking, “Please don’t let the teacher ask me to answer that last question!” It wasn’t because I couldn’t answer it, or at least have a go at answering it. But just like going on a TV quiz show, answering in front of an audience and on-time isn’t always as easy as it seems.

This didn’t mean I was unable to learn the subject matter - but simply that I couldn’t learn it in that environment.

With this in mind, I’m a great believer in and supporter of the new wave of training plans being offered, as they clearly endorse new ways of learning.

One of my favourite examples of this is a strategy being employed within the IT industry. Not surprisingly, it’s using the latest technological tools to teach comparatively complex skills and techniques, with a great level of success.

Offering the option of multimedia and on-line tutorials, presented by experts in their respective field, gives quality access to a huge array of learning material - whenever and wherever the student wants it. Real round the clock learning and the true option to choose where to study; all of which enhances the learning experience and consequently improves learning success.

A world away from the sterile, intimidating experience of the classroom of youth.

There are clearly other benefits: The ability to carry on study when the student may not feel wholly well, or during incapacitation. Training schemes are available to all, including those with disabilities who find it difficult to study at a centralised centre. The ability to carry on studying regardless of the weather outside, and the ability to study in the security of one’s own home.

There are other additional advantages. These include less cost and ‘down-time’; in terms of the time it takes to travel to the teaching centre and back, the issue of having to be there at a specific time, and the cost of travel to and from the centre. This all supports the strategy of ’smart study’ - studying in a cost effective manner, when you want, what you want, and where it suits you best.

Training by his method is not hampered by the slow upgrades or revisions of reading material and books. Students have an edge over their counterparts, as they are more likely to be studying the latest concepts and skills available.

That’s not to say you’re forced to study in isolation though. This new training philosophy recognises that some people need to have human communication built into their study program. To this end, a truly effective plan includes ‘interactive’ on-line support with real people. Many students also set up their own study-buddy network, where they can exchange their ideas in a relaxed environment and discuss the concepts they’re studying.

Incredible developments have occurred in the field of IT and educational strategies. It seems a natural progression that these two disciplines have come together for the advantage of the student, and created a training environment where the student is more in-control. This makes it more pleasurable overall, and is surely one of the basic tenets of learning?

(C) 2009. Check out LearningLolly.com for quality advice on Coldfusion MX 7 and Coldfusion MX 7 Training.

Look at any Best Seller list in bookshops today, and it’ll be populated with autobiographies of the rich and famous. From glamour models to footballers to empire builders, they all have a different story to tell, but each has a common thread - they overcame adversity by focusing on the positives.

That’s the way of the world; life’s achievers allow positive reasons why ‘they can’ to flood their consciousness, and drown out negative reasons why they can’t.

For the trainee, this attitude to studying is vital. To complete a training program successfully, the biggest tool in a student’s workbox is a positive mindset. An optimistic outlook brings about all sorts of circumstances, possibilities, answers and opportunities to achieve. On the other hand, a negative outlook blocks creativity and numbs our learning receptors.

This is down to our Reticular Activation System - an automatic mechanism in our brain that tells us what to focus on. Throughout our lives, we’ve experienced many things that no longer stay in the forefront of our minds - the bulk of what we’ve learned moves from our conscious mind to our sub-conscious mind, a kind of store cupboard stocked up with all our past knowledge and beliefs.

When we attempt to do something consciously, our Reticular Activation System (RAS) will go through our sub-conscious mind for any associated information it holds, and bring it into focus. As we’re walking down a road, we’re made aware only of things that are relevant to us - anything else is just background noise.

This means that if our conscious mind has been regularly sending messages that are upbeat and positive to our sub-conscious mind, then that’s what it will transfer back. But if our sub-conscious has been given loads of downbeat and defeatist messages, then that’s equally what will be sent back.

It seems that achievers are able to manipulate the messages filtered through to their sub-conscious minds by deliberately programming their RAS and choosing the exact messages the conscious mind sends. This makes it an essential tool for achieving goals, as the sub-conscious mind can’t distinguish between real or imaginary events.

In other words, as it believes what it’s told, we need to create a very specific picture of our goal in our conscious mind. The RAS will then pass this on to our subconscious - which will then help us achieve the goal. It does this by bringing to our attention all the relevant information which otherwise might have remained as ‘background noise’.

The writer Napoleon Hill said that we can achieve any realistic goal if we keep focusing on that goal, and stop dwelling on any negative thoughts about it. Obviously, if we keep thinking that we can’t hit a goal, our subconscious will help us not to achieve it.

(C) 2009. Pop over to LearningLolly.com for intelligent tips on Director MX 2004 and Director MX 2004 Training.

Considering an MCSE? Then it’s likely that you’re probably in 1 of 2 situations: You’re currently an IT professional and you want to enhance your CV with the Microsoft qualification. On the other hand this might be your initial foray into the computer workplace, and your research tells you there is a great need for people with the right qualifications.

When looking into training providers, ensure that you steer clear of those that short-change you by not providing the latest level of Microsoft development. This is no use to the trainee because they’ll have been studying the wrong MCSE version which doesn’t correspond to the current exam syllabus, so it’s going to be hugely difficult for them to get qualified.

Avoid making a hasty decision when buying a course before having all your questions answered. Set your sights on finding a training provider who will ensure you are on a well matched program for your needs.

Your training program should always include the most up to date Microsoft (or relevant organisation’s) authorised exam preparation packages.

Don’t fall foul of depending on unofficial exam preparation systems. Their phraseology is sometimes startlingly different - and sometimes this can be a real headache when it comes to taking the real exam.

Ensure that you test your knowledge by doing tests and simulated exams to prepare you for taking the real thing.

Quite often, students have issues with one aspect of their training usually not even thought about: The breakdown of the course materials before being delivered to your home.

You may think it logical (with training often lasting 2 or 3 years for a full commercial certification,) for your typical trainer to courier one section at a time, as you complete each part. However:

Maybe the order of study insisted on by the company won’t suit you. And what if you don’t finish all the modules at the speed required?

An ideal situation would be to have all the training materials packed off to your home before you even start; the entire thing! This prevents any future issues from rising that will affect your capacity to get everything done.

Any advisor who doesn’t ask you a lot of questions - it’s more than likely they’re just trying to sell you something. If they push a particular product before understanding your background and current experience level, then you know it’s true.

Don’t forget, if you’ve had any relevant previous certification, then you may be able to begin at a different level to a trainee with no history to speak of.

Working through a basic PC skills module first can be the best way to get into your IT programme, but really depends on your level of familiarity with computers.

At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be proper direct-access 24×7 support from expert mentors and instructors. So many companies we come across only seem to want to help while they’re in the office (9am till 6pm, Monday till Friday usually) and nothing at the weekends.

Locate training schools where you can receive help at any time of the day or night (irrespective of whether it’s the wee hours on Sunday morning!) You’ll need 24×7 direct access to mentors and instructors, and not a call-centre that will take messages so you’re waiting for tutors to call you back at a convenient time for them.

Be on the lookout for training programs that have multiple support offices active in different time-zones. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to offer a simple interface together with round-the-clock access, when you need it, with no fuss.

Never settle for less than you need and deserve. Online 24×7 support is the only viable option with computer-based courses. Perhaps you don’t intend to study during the evenings; but for the majority of us however, we’re out at work while the support is live.

(C) 2009. Browse LearningLolly.com for quality information on MCSE 2003 Certification and MCSE Courses.