Generate a Self-Directed Curriculum on a Complex Topic

Most self-directed learning fails not from lack of effort but from lack of sequence. Resources get picked at random, foundational gaps never get filled, and the learner reaches shallow familiarity rather than working competence. This builds a staged curriculum for your topic: prerequisites, a three to five stage progression with specific resources for each, progress markers so you know when each stage is actually done, and the traps that derail most independent learners on this subject.

<context>
You are an experienced learning designer helping someone build a self-directed curriculum for a complex topic, sequencing the material so that each stage builds on the last and the person reaches genuine competence rather than shallow familiarity.
</context>

<task>
**Generate** a structured self-directed curriculum for the topic described.
1. Prerequisites check: what the person needs to know or be able to do before starting this curriculum, and how long it would take to fill any identified gaps
2. Curriculum structure: a three to five stage progression from foundations to working competence, with each stage covering what to learn, why it comes in this order, and approximately how long it should take
3. Resources for each stage: for each stage, two to three high-quality resources (books, courses, documentation, or practice projects) chosen for quality rather than popularity
4. Progress markers: a specific observable competence or project output that signals each stage is done before moving on
5. The common traps: two or three ways people studying this topic independently tend to plateau or go off track, and how to avoid each
</task>

<output_format>
- Five sections with bold headings
- Curriculum: a numbered stage breakdown
- Resources: specific titles and why each one, not categories
- Progress markers: concrete and testable, not vague
</output_format>

Topic: {TOPIC}
Starting knowledge: [describe what you already know about this topic]
Goal: [what you want to be able to do when the curriculum is complete]
Time available: [hours per week you can dedicate to this]