I had cataract surgery and a replacement lens inserted in one of my eyes yesterday. The team who carried it out from admin, nursing, clinical, and aftercare were quietly competent. Each person in the process knew EXACTLY what they had to do and went about it with complete confidence. Checklists were everywhere but managed with the air of practised conviction as an activity to be reminded of, rather than a crutch.

This is the difference between proficiency and competence; the team managing my surgery used checklists throughout to confirm their practice and ways of work. The proficient employee relies on the checklist while the competent employee uses it as an aide memoire.

Are you using checklists as part of the learning support you offer and are they designed to help proficiency or competence?