P.S. Re: Can someone learn to be detail-oriented?

[DLCrossman -at- AOL -dot- COM]

As an addendum to my recent post in response to Jill, to specifically answer
Jill's questions, I would say:

> 1. Can someone who hasn't shown the aptitude learn to (take your pick of
>  descriptive phrases):
>          be detail-oriented
>          switch hit
>          do the necessary editing
>          be focused
>          learn to check their work
>          do the unnatural
>          catch things so that they don't slip through

If they don't have the aptitude (cognitive facility), they can improve but
will never be very good at this and, from what you're describing, you need
someone who can excel at it.  These are not simple rote tasks to be learned,
although it would seem like it to those who are strongly detail-oriented,
etc.; it involves various cognitive processes working together in synchrony
for strong performance to occur.  Although an exaggeration, this is like
trying to teach a full-out mathematician to be (think and perceive like) an
artist -- they just don't see things the same and that's not a simple
difference to create or undo.

>
>  2. What methods worked to achieve this?

With some of the teaching methods mentioned in the posted responses,
especially the feedback from seeing corrections you made to her work, she
may
improve, but still won't excel.

>
>  3. What results?

Improvement, capability to perform certain TW jobs, but probably not yours,
unless you find a particular sub-area (possibly something related to design
or figures) within the overall task where she is able to be highly
detail-oriented.

>
>  4. How long did it take for the person to work independently?

Don't see it happening in an overall sense, if you need high quality.

>

Debbie Crossman
Technical Writer
Boston, MA
DLCrossman -at- aol -dot- com

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