I love reading Eric Barker, whether it is in a blog, newsletter or in book form, his scientific stress-testing the maxims we’ve all been told about life and
success always enlighten me with a glimmering insight on why I sometimes bark up the wrong tree!
A friend shared two articles as comments on the recent AI articles, and asked: "will the new QS's have very little analytical skills in their profession one day?"
Andy Carolin is an associate professor in the Department of English at the University of Johannesburg. He writes in his personal capacity and his article in the Daily Maverick highlights the question about analytical skills.
"The impact of a degree or diploma certificate on employability hinges almost entirely on the extent to which employers recognise the value of that qualification. Within the labour market, then, universities play a key certification function, where a qualification certifies that a core set of skills and knowledge has been acquired. (Of course, there are also statutory bodies that oversee the qualifications in a more formal sense).
But we are now more than two years
into the easy availability of generative AI such as ChatGPT. This means
that a large part of the current cohort of students has had access to a
tool that allows them to submit almost-always passable written
submissions.
This is in a context where many
universities have not returned to traditional in-person invigilated
exams after the massification of online assessments during the Covid-19
lockdowns.
To put it simply: I have no doubt
that there are students who used ChatGPT consistently over the past year
or two to cheat their way through degrees and diplomas without
formulating original ideas, applying important concepts, or even reading
prescribed material."
Continue reading his article here as well as Daniel Puchert commentary in MyBroadband in which he interviewed the University of Pretoria (UP), Prof Wynand Steyn, who says that AI has been a significant disruptor. However, UP’s EBIT embraces the tool. “I’m quite honest and open about it. We do incorporate it. It’s not a sin to use generative AI because it’s a normal tool out there,”
said Steyn.
Now back to Eric Barker and his blog How To Become An Expert At Anything: 5 Scientific Steps To Mastery.
Advice on becoming an expert is often frustratingly vague yet oddly overconfident. We hear things like “practice makes perfect,” “embrace failure,” or “just start!”—all of which sound great on a motivational poster but offer little real guidance. The truth is, mastery isn’t built on empty slogans but on well-researched principles that actually work.
Luckily, there’s an entire field dedicated to understanding how expertise develops. Whether you want to sharpen your skills at work, excel in school, or perfect a hobby, proven strategies exist to help you get there. Drawing from the book Accelerated Expertise: Training for High Proficiency in a Complex World, we’ll dive into research-backed methods that deliver results—no vague platitudes, just solid, tested insights.
Learning needs to be difficult!
Barker says: "Let’s be clear: deliberate practice isn’t just “spending 10,000 hours.” No, that’s the romantic myth. It’s not the hours that matter—it’s the miserable specificity of those hours"
Read his blog and realise that mastery isn’t just about mimicking actions—it’s about grasping the underlying principles that separate a cook from a chef. True expertise requires struggle; if learning feels too comfortable, you’re probably not doing it right. The journey to proficiency will have moments that make you question your life choices, but that discomfort is a sign of growth. Instead of cramming, embrace distributed practice—taking things slow and steady so knowledge settles in over time. Think of it as a gradual seduction of the brain rather than a frantic cram session.
Feedback is essential, but don’t expect gentle encouragement—it’s more of a forensic audit of your flaws. Finding a mentor can help turn brutal honesty into actionable improvement. As for retention, the decay curve is relentless, dragging forgotten skills into oblivion unless you fight back with repetition. Overlearning may feel tedious, but it’s the secret to making knowledge stick. Just like Daniel-san (The Karate Kid0
waxing on and off, repetition builds mastery—even if it feels like you’re banging your head against a wall until the wall pities you.
Read about the two key things that are consistently found in expert teams, and if you like his writing style, subscribe to his newsletter. Then decide, will QSs students of the future, have the stamina to acquire the analytical skills necessary for our profession?
Compiled by Bert van den Heever using AI summaries.
Disclaimer: This article is the personal opinion/view of the author(s) and is not necessarily that of the ASAQS
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I love reading Eric Barker, whether it is in a blog, newsletter or in book form, his scientific stress-testing the maxims we’ve all been told about life and
success always enlighten me with a glimmering insight on why I sometimes bark up the wrong tree!