Knowledge and skill

Knowledge and skill

This is not written only for those aspiring to enter IITs/ professional courses and their parents - but they may find it of immediate use.

Why and how some succeed in these competitive examinations and others do not?  - WHEN

•                  some of those who had not succeeded

•                  have worked harder

•                  are not less knowledgeable

•                  go on to become "great" some day - any way

Let me share a small secret with you all - it is just like erecting a building.

•                  It requires foundation first

•                  The structures are required next

•                  The finishing and decorations come last

All buildings without strong foundation or structure would collapse at the first test, however beautiful the finish.  While even the crudest looking building would withstand all calamities, when the foundation and structure are right.

It is the same with education. The foundation and structure is knowledge - and the  finishing and decoration is equivalent to skill. In terms of education, the skill is scoring the required marks in the examination, and real life it is the ability to apply the knowledge for reaching the objective.

Without knowledge, some can acquire skill - which would at some time prove to be inadequate.

Without skill it is like unfinished building, strong but not livable.

But the order is clear - first the knowledge and then skill. You cant finish the building first and have foundation and structure later.

In case of learning, the analogy may look complicated - as if we are building a huge edifice sprawling over acres of land - independent buildings being analogous for different subjects.  But then,  this is the advantage of the analogy - Each small fact we learn has to be supported by earlier fact we have learnt -  otherwise they are unsupported are partially supported.

If one can break their knowledge into small bits, and analyse each bit as fully supported are not fully supported from the basics - it then becomes easier to fill the gaps and ensure that most of the knowledge is correct and clear. - any application after acquiring clear knowledge is easy and takes very little time to master.

- But then , what about the knowledge which is not "fully" supported?

Well, we can use a simple three step process.

1.               Try and see if the support can be strengthened by further reading / discussion

2.               When step 1 is not possible, acknowledge that there is a gap - and keep looking for avenues for closing the gap as one learns further.

3.               Concentrate on developing the skills, always being conscious that we are decorating a "weak structure".

This will help to

•                  Know clearly what we know  -  -  and

•                  Know what we do not know.

The logical path then is the three 'A"s - Awareness / acceptance / action plan.

Irrespective of how long it takes,  once we have an action plan - we always fulfil the objective.

When we practice skill, knowing very well that there is a knowledge ga, the gap gets filled sooner than later. -- and the skilled become honed. When we practice the skills without this awareness of knowledge gap, the "skill" may let one down when most needed.

Now - one may ask - how do we know that  "we know"?

SIMPLE - if you can teach someone else, answering all their doubts - then you know - otherwise, you know to the extent you can explain.

Let us now start building strong knowledge - through it strong economy  and strong nation.  

A Nation whose skill is supported by knowledge.