Concept: Learning Theory: Five Learning Levels
This concept describes the five levels of learning described in Bloom's Taxonomy and how they apply to the adoption of process and tool improvements.
Main Description

There are 5 levels of learning:

  • Level 1 Basic Knowledge: Awareness of the basic concepts
  • Level 2 Understanding: Able to understand and apply the knowledge with some help, able to solve simple problems
  • Level 3 Application: Able to apply the knowledge to solve problems without help
  • Level 4 Judgment: Able to apply knowledge in various complex situations
  • Level 5 Synthesis: Master of the domain. Can identify weakness of the domain and develop "new knowledge"


For successful adoption of software development capability improvements, training is important but not sufficient. After a training class most people will be at Level 1, few will be at Level 2. Practitioners need to be at Level 3 to apply the knowledge effectively. Mentoring support is needed to achieve Level 3. A mentor is a Level 4 or Level 5 practitioner in a his/her domain.

Most learners get only basic knowledge from a training class. They have to apply this knowledge to real problems in order to become truly capable. That is hard to do if you are fresh out of a basic training class unless you are working with a skilled mentor. Mentors can help learners quickly advance to the second and third learning stages and then support them in stages 4 and 5, as the learners gain more experience. It takes time and experience to hone the good judgment necessary for these stages, and there are no shortcuts.