---
name: knowledge-gap-map
description: "Map what you don't know about a subject — including the gaps you can't see — so your learning targets the holes instead of re-covering what you already know. Use when asked what don't I know about X, find my knowledge gaps, what should I learn next in, or map my understanding of. Produces a picture of the subject's territory, what you already know vs the gaps, the dangerous unknown-unknowns (things you don't know you're missing), which gaps matter most for your goal, and a prioritized learn-next list — so effort goes where it counts."
---

# Knowledge-Gap Map

The hardest part of learning is that you can't see your own gaps — especially the unknown-unknowns, the things you don't even know you're missing. So people re-study what they already know (comfortable) and skip the holes (invisible). This maps the territory of a subject against what you know, surfaces the gaps you can't see, and tells you which ones actually matter for your goal — so your learning aims at the holes.

## What This Skill Produces

- **The territory** — the map of what the subject actually covers (the whole landscape, so gaps become visible)
- **Know vs. don't-know** — a split of what you've got vs. where the holes are, based on your self-assessment and probing
- **The unknown-unknowns** — the important things you didn't know you were missing (the dangerous, invisible gaps)
- **Gap priority** — which gaps matter most for *your* goal (not all gaps are worth filling)
- **A learn-next list** — the prioritized holes to target, in order

## Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:
- **The subject** — what you're mapping your knowledge of
- **Your goal** — what you need the knowledge for (determines which gaps matter)
- **What you know** — your current understanding (to compare against the territory)
- **Where you feel shaky** — the gaps you already sense

## Framework: Map The Territory, Find The Holes

1. **Lay out the whole territory.** Sketch what the subject actually spans — you can only see gaps against a map of the whole.
2. **Compare to what you know.** Split the territory into solid vs. shaky vs. missing, using the person's self-assessment plus a few probing questions.
3. **Surface unknown-unknowns.** The high-value move: name important areas the person didn't mention because they didn't know to — the invisible gaps.
4. **Prioritize by goal.** Not every gap is worth filling — flag the ones that actually matter for their purpose, and the ones they can safely skip.
5. **Order the learn-next list.** Sequence the priority gaps (respecting dependencies) so learning targets the holes efficiently.

## Output Format

### Mapping your knowledge of: [subject] · for [goal]

**The territory:** [the areas the subject covers].
**You've got:** [solid areas]. **Shaky:** [wobbly areas].
**⚠️ Gaps you didn't know you had:** [important unknown-unknowns].
**Matters for your goal:** [the gaps worth filling] · **Can skip:** [not needed for you].
**Learn next (in order):** [prioritized holes].

## Quality Checks
- [ ] Lays out the full territory so gaps are visible
- [ ] Splits known/shaky/missing honestly
- [ ] Surfaces unknown-unknowns (the invisible, important gaps)
- [ ] Prioritizes gaps by the person's actual goal
- [ ] Produces an ordered learn-next list respecting dependencies

## Anti-Patterns
- **Only listing gaps the person already knows** about.
- **No map of the territory** to see gaps against.
- **Treating all gaps as equally important.**
- **Missing the unknown-unknowns** — the whole point.
- **A flat list** with no priority or order.

## Example Trigger Phrases
- "What don't I know about personal finance that I should?"
- "Map my knowledge gaps in machine learning."
- "What should I learn next in cooking — where are my holes?"
- "I know some marketing but not sure what I'm missing."
- "Find the gaps in my understanding of this subject."