Learning curve
Learning is a human process through which skills, knowledge, habits and attitudes are acquired and utilized in such way that behaviour is modified. Learning cannot be measured directly in any unit but it can be observed by the behavior of people modified through learning. Learning is closely related to attention and concentration.
Every human being is capable to learning but it rarely takes place at a constant rate. It varies according to the difficulties of task and the ability of individuals to learn. Learning curve is a popular method of demonstrating the rate of learning under a specific criterion and during a given time. Learning curve is actually a graph that shows the rate of learning. It refers to a relationship of duration of learning and the learning progress. In learning curves, the progress of learning is presented by using suitable measurements such as errors made in each trial, acquiring new skill etc.
There are certain common things in learning curves viz, 1) there is initial rise in the learning, 2) there is tendency of curve to rise less and less rapidly and finally it levels off 3)there are daily up and downs in the curve due to change in incentives, efforts, psychological conditions of the person, Then the curve levels off. Occasional but not always, learning curves show plateaus which mean no progress. Plateaus indicate crucial stages when the learners have to make extra efforts and the trainer has to provide additional information. They usually take place when the task is complex. Other reasons of occurring plateaus are distraction during training, lack of motivation, inefficient performance method and ineffective teaching or poor training.