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By, Pamela O. Vickers Most of the four learning stages - unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence and unconscious competence - are bridged by acquiring experience. But the gap between unconscious incompetence to conscious competence is where the most discomfort and discouragement occurs. Helping new developers bridge the void ensures a vibrant, accessible community, and having visible members/mentors in each stage encourages newcomers' learning. This talk illustrates (literally!) how to help new colleagues build this bridge and prevent losing them in the what-do-I-even-Google abyss.
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In her talk at RailsConf 2015, Pamela O. Vickers addresses the challenges faced by new developers in navigating the coding community, focusing on the essential learning stages and the importance of mentorship. The primary theme centers around the transition from unconscious incompetence to conscious competence, a process filled with discomfort and confusion for many learners. Key Points Discussed: - **The Learning Stages**: The talk introduces the four stages defined by psychologist Noel Burch: unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence, and unconscious competence. These stages illustrate the journey of a new developer, represented in the character Tenderfoot. - **Tenderfoot's Journey**: Tenderfoot begins her journey in a dark forest, symbolizing her initial ignorance about coding. Her travels through this forest provide a metaphor for the challenges new learners face when seeking direction in coding. - **Community's Role**: Vickers emphasizes the importance of experienced developers as mentors who can guide newcomers. She illustrates how supportive interaction can help new learners feel welcomed and understood, contrasting this with the harshness often encountered in forums or communities. - **Building Bridges**: A significant focus of the talk is on how to effectively communicate with beginners and assist them in their development journey. Using examples like Tenderfoot sending a note for assistance, Vickers highlights the nuances of crafting encouraging and constructive responses to newcomers. - **Encouragement and Visibility**: Vickers stresses that mentors and senior developers should frequently visit lower levels of the learning mountain to guide others and become part of the supportive community. The visibility of diverse voices in this space enriches the experience for all. Conclusions and Takeaways: - The learning experience in programming is a shared adventure, and the coding community thrives when it collaborates and supports each other. - Kind and clear communication is vital to foster an inclusive environment that welcomes new learners. - Everyone in the tech community has the potential to act as a mentor, contributing to the development of future generations of programmers. - Realizing that struggles are normal in the learning process can help build a more robust and encouraging community.
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