Learning to learn LO4375

Tom Johnson (TJOHNSON@ECONBUS1.ECON.NCSU.EDU)
Thu, 21 Dec 1995 08:59:34 EST5EDT

Replying to LO4346 --

Responding to Rol Fessenden Learning to learn LO4346

> Actually, I/we believe that what we are doing is learning. Our
> large-scale design is to learn more about the business, apply what we
> learn, and learn more. The experiments are a part of a fabric. Is that
> what you mean when you say "each [experiment] is part of a larger
> sequential learning design."

Rol,

EXACTLY. This is in the spirit of EVOP.

See G. E. P. Box and N. R. Draper, _Evolutionary Operation -- A
Statistical Method for Process Improvement_, Wiley, 1969. A "Mind
Expanding" book that is a great example of actual evolution is the more
recent _Beak of the Finch_ which chronicles the observed evolution of
Darwin's Finches through a series of drastic changes in climate on their
isolated islands.

An experiment may be a success even if an individual trial, or round of
trials, produces disapointing results.

The finches were able to "learn", and "relearn", their most appropriate
body types because of the diversity of less than "optimum" types
during previous periods.

--
Tom Johnson
tom_johnson@ncsu.edu
tel: (919) 515 4620
fax: (919) 515 1794
Box 8109
18A Patterson Hall 
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-8109