A coach should ensure that the learner is practicing in the area of ‘Learning Zone’. If a learner is practicing in the ‘Apparent Certainty’ zone. Say for example, setting a target condition or adding obstacles. They are already in their comfort zone. The learner will simply complete each task.
On the opposite side, we have the ‘Danger Zone’. This is where the learner has set a target condition or established obstacles way beyond their knowledge or understanding. The learner will also not be able to get any closer to this knowledge through PDSA experimentation either. This can lead to the learner feeling unsupported, incapable or insecure. See Wile E Cyote cartoon as a learner below. Roadrunner has left in the danger zone!
One of the skills of the coach is to make sure the learner resides as much as possible in the learning one.
