Our minds rely on a dual-system architecture when we learn: the object-level and the meta-level. Think of this like a plane flying through a storm. The plane's autopilot computer is the object-level, programmed to make instant, automatic adjustments to the rudder to keep the plane level. It handles the raw execution of the task. However, if a massive storm appears ahead, the human pilot—representing the meta-level—must step in to evaluate the situation, decide if a detour is necessary, and reprogram the trajectory.

These two levels constantly communicate through a feedback loop of monitoring and control. The object-level autopilot monitors the flight and feeds performance data, like altitude or speed, up to the meta-level pilot. In response to this data, the pilot exerts control, sending instructions down to alter the course. Without this continuous loop, the autopilot would fly blindly into a mountain, and the pilot would have no information to make decisions.