Today I want to talk about something that applies not just to Access development, but to learning any skill... software development, engineering, communications, diplomacy, even Klingon opera if you're into that sort of thing.

It's called the Four Stages of Competence.

If you've never heard of this before, it's a learning model that describes how people move from not knowing what they don't know... all the way up to doing things so well, they don't even have to think about them anymore. I've found this framework incredibly helpful when teaching Access, because I can usually tell which stage a student is in, and it helps me figure out the best way to guide them forward.

Let's break them down:

1. Unconscious Incompetence

This is the bottom tier. You don't know what you're doing, and worse, you don't know that you don't know. It's the most dangerous level because people at this stage tend to make mistakes with confidence. This might remind you of Neelix in the early seasons of Voyager. He meant well, but he often jumped into engineering or tactical situations without the right knowledge or training, convinced he was helping. In reality, he was often in over his head and had no clue. Luckily, over time, he found his place. But those early episodes were classic unconscious incompetence.

2. Conscious Incompetence

This is actually a great place to be. You know you don't know what you're doing. It's the beginning of self-awareness, and that's the first step toward real growth. These are the students who say, "I don't understand [TOPIC] yet, but I want to learn." Think of Wesley Crusher in his early days. He knew he didn't have the experience, but he asked questions, paid attention, and over time, he developed into a capable officer.

3. Conscious Competence

Now you're getting good. You know what you're doing, but it still takes effort and mental focus. You're solving problems, writing code, but you still need to Google things, check your syntax, maybe even test ideas a few times before you get them working. This is Geordi in Engineering. He knows his stuff, but you'll still see him running diagnostics, adjusting alignments, reviewing schematics, and reading technical manuals. Skilled, but focused. Conscious competence in action.

4. Unconscious Competence

This is mastery. You don't think, you just do. You see a problem and the solution comes to you before you've even finished hearing the question. Years of experience have built instincts that are hard to teach. And of course, who better fits this than Spock. He can perform complex time-travel calculations, operate alien tech, and shut down enemy systems, all without breaking a sweat or raising his voice.

This is where I like to think I am when it comes to Access development. I've been building databases since 1994, back when Access 2.0 came out. That was many moons ago. Bill Clinton was in the Oval Office. Windows 3.1 was still on desks. Picard was still in the captain's chair. Floppy disks were still a thing. These days, Access just comes to me naturally because I've spent most of my working life with it. And back then, we had to learn from books! Google and YouTube didn't even exist yet.

Optional 5th Level: Willful Ignorance

This one isn't in the official model, but I see it all the time. These are people who could learn but choose not to. They know they don't know, but they're not interested in changing that. It's not inability, it's unwillingness. Like someone refusing to use modern tech because the old way worked fine. Star Trek example? Dr. Pulaski early in Season 2. She dismissed Data as just a machine and made no effort to understand him. It wasn't until she spent time with him that she began to appreciate his value. Thankfully, she moved past that stage. Some people don't.

So... where are you on this chart? It's fine to be at the beginning. The key is to recognize your level and keep moving up. Growth only happens when you're willing to step out of your comfort zone.

And if you're already at Level 4 in Access, congrats. Just don't go full Barclay and start rewriting the holodeck.

LLAP/RR