Skill Acquisition Rates and Patterns

Summary.- Background and Requirement.- Objectives.- Domain of Analyses.- Approach.- Initial Directions.- Modifying Approach and Emphasis.- Emphasizing Retention and Transfer.- Emphasizing Processes of Acquisition.- Acquisition Curves, Shapes and Parameters.- Basic Parameters.- The Nature of Acquisition Functions.- Comparative Analysis of Acquisition Functions.- Conditions that Affect Curve Shape.- Group vs. Individual Curves.- Behavioral vs. Engineering Approaches.- Some Relevant Theory and Findings on Acquisition.- The Nature of Skilled Performance.- Distinctions Between Skills and Abilities.- Stages and Phases of Learning.- Development of "Automatic" Behavior.- Schema Theory Explanations of Acquisition.- Contextual Interference.- Knowledge of Results and Feedback.- Part-Task and Task Simplification Approaches.- Prediction of Time to Train.- Retention.- Issues in Task and Skill Classification.- Generalizations and Discussion.- Overview.- Generalizations from the Data.- Generalizations About the Data.- Conclusions.- Mechanisms for Improvement.- Overview.- 1. Collection and use of Training data.- 2. More Flexibility in Training Time and Scheduling.- 3. Programs for Refresher Training.- 4. R&D on Task and Skill Description Systems.- References.