What is a main characteristic of a negatively accelerating learning curve?

A negatively accelerating learning curve is characterized by rapid initial learning followed by a decline in the speed of learning as proficiency increases. This means that learners often grasp new concepts and skills quickly at first, achieving significant improvements in performance. However, as they continue to practice and gain experience, the rate of improvement slows down. This pattern is typical in many learning experiences where initial gains are significant, but as one reaches higher levels of competence, the incremental gains become smaller and more challenging to achieve.

This behavior illustrates the idea that learning can be easy and quick at the beginning, as foundational knowledge is established, but starts to plateau as individuals work towards mastering more complex tasks or skills. Therefore, as the learner advances, they may find that while they still continue to learn, the pace at which they do so is not as rapid as it was initially. This reflects an important aspect of skill acquisition and helps inform training methods and expectations for both trainers and learners.