Developing Competence

By Dominik Lukeš

From Knowledge to Fluency

There is a critical difference between knowing about something and being able to do it. We distinguish between:

Feature Encyclopaedic Knowledge Practical Fluency
Definition Look up and know Look and know
Memory Retrieves from long-term memory Immediate access
Mental Effort High cognitive load Low cognitive load
Utility Good for planning/strategy Necessary for performance

You cannot think your way to fluency. You must practice your way there.