🚀 go-pugleaf

Recently, an editorial was published in a journal which is produced locally
titled "That Dreaded Learning Curve".  Here are the most relevant sections
from the article:

     "Let's start with a definition of /learning curve/, from ... /American
     Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition/: "A graph that depicts rate of
     learning, especially a graph of progress in the mastery of a skill
     against the time required for such mastery."

     "By convention, graphs involving time usually depict it along the
     x-axis. ... We could label the y-axis [mastery]."

     [Graph showing Tic-Tac-Toe with a very steep learning curve compared
     with learning to speak Arabic.]

     "As a quick learner, you stopped misusing the term /steep learning
     curve/ the instant you saw my little chart. ..."

I believe that the dictionary gleans it's definition from usage, and that
actual usage is the definition.  (A dictionary only serves to attempt a
concise definition.)  Usage puts KNOWLEDGE UNITS (gained over time) on the
y-axis and Proficiency on the x-axis.  The portion of the /learning curve/
that is most used is the part from "not useful" to "useful" on the x-axis.
This reverses his graph's slope.

We disagree, but we have dropped it until I can find further third-party
documentation to support my position.  I would prefer references to widely
available sources, but sections from more obscure but authoratative sources
would be acceptable.  I am posting from Weber State University (ignore the
header that says U of U), so I could look up sources in academic journals.
We even have a masters of education program at WSU, so educational journals
would be fine.

			Thanks in advance,
				-=:[ VAL ]:=-

P.S.: Any correspondance should be addressed to val@csulx.weber.edu instead
     of using the address in the header.

P.P.S.: If I'm wrong, then tell me too.  This is an open topic for discussion.
     However, please give documentation to support your position.
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