Search the Web for "generative understanding" and "generative learning."
The problem with the common time vs. attempts vs. progress learning curve model is that it's applied to a single simple task. It "charts" very well, but it's not a reliable model outside a lab experiment. Generative understanding and generative learning view learning as complex tasks in which forward progress can be set back when a new component is introduced, until the new task is mastered, and the new mastery is integrated with the older existing skills. Consider learning to juggle. One ball in one hand is easy. One ball in two hands is easy. Two balls in one hand is a bit harder. Two balls in two hands is a bit harder. Three balls in one hand and three balls in two hands is a lot harder - a big jump, even though this task is comprised of the two simpler, previously mastered, tasks. The easy way to measure progress is by adding balls to the juggle and counting how many hit the floor (assuming gravity exists). Plotting the progress is a mixture of starting points, gains, plateaus, setbacks when new challenges are added, lather, rinse, and repeat. Learning FrameMaker is really about learning how documents are constructed and published. You learn to juggle a letter, word, phrase, sentence, and paragraph. Then you juggle controlling the appearance of each of these items separately in a systematic and consistent way - character/font appearance properties and named formats/styles. Then you juggle them together spatially - space between letters, between words, between paragraphs; starting position on page, in frame, in column, across columns; keep with next and previous. Then you juggle the prefix decorations - bullets and numbers. Then you juggle the stage on which they appear - left/right/custom page master pages. Etc. Reread this paragraph substituting "Word," "InDesign," or other tool for "FrameMaker." It's not the tool, it's the process. It's an Industrial Revolution assembly-line manufacturing process applied to information rather than physical objects. You make standardized interchangeable parts (styles/formats), apply them to content/concept building blocks (headings, paragraphs, lists), and build them into larger components (sections, chapters, books.) Because they're standardized, you can rely on them to behave uniformly and reliably in standard situations. FrameMaker's very good at this; Word's been known to be fragile in some parts of its process. HTH Regards, Peter _______________________________ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
