Tracking Progress

At Riolu, we understand that nobody is perfect, but we also understand that there needs to be progress. If we keep teaching and nobody is learning then we are doing something wrong and quite literally wasting our time.

Progress tracking involves setting small goals to measure our seniors' understanding of specific topics and show growth over time. Think of locating saved photos without help, sending a message with confidence, or joining a video call without second-guessing the steps. Each checkpoint is clear, doable, and revisited until it feels routine. This approach is especially helpful in our community, where confidence grows by noticing what feels easier each week.

This method does have its ups and downs, but when done well, progress tracking can improve seniors' confidence and makes tech learning feel less like a chore and more like a goal they're working toward. It quantifies results for them and for us. Over time, these moments create a memory of wins that learners can lean on when an assignment feels difficult.

We've spent a lot of time finding the "Goldilocks zone" between too hard and too easy. The key is to pick something that takes effort but is still achievable with a reasonable amount of work. I emphasize "reasonable" because, yes, hard work can achieve a lot, but people aren't machines. You can't expect everyone to master quantum mechanics, complex analysis, and four new languages just by sheer will. Everyone has some form of hubris: that is, a limiting flaw. Here, it's less a downfall and more a practical constraint on potential.

I'm noticing a theme: execution matters. There are many ways to assess people's abilities, tests, observation, assignments, and each has pros and cons. A good concept executed poorly is bad, and a bad concept executed well is still bad. You need a good idea that you can perform well.