mental-model-system-vs-interaction

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps you distinguish system mental models (how users think the system works internally) from interaction mental models (how users think they should use it) so you can design onboarding, documentation, and fixes that match the user’s real understanding.

Core Features & Use Cases

• Onboarding model selection: Decide whether first-time teaching should explain the system’s internal workings or focus on the correct usage sequence for the user.
• Debugging confusion: Determine whether a user’s first failure comes from misunderstanding the system or misunderstanding what to do next.
• Documentation and consent clarity: Write explanations that surface the right model when users need system understanding (e.g., privacy-sensitive toggles) or need clear interaction guidance (e.g., how to recover from errors).

Quick Start

Use this skill when you are designing onboarding, revising a documentation page, or analyzing a user confusion report to identify whether the user’s problem is a system-model gap or an interaction-model gap.