What is the term that describes small gains from practice in early sessions followed by significant improvement later?

The term that describes small gains from practice in early sessions, followed by significant improvement later, is known as positively accelerated learning. This phenomenon is characterized by an initial period where progress may be slow or marginal, but as individuals continue to practice, they start to experience a dramatic increase in their performance levels. This concept illustrates that early practice lays the foundational skills, and as learners become more familiar and comfortable with the task, they can make larger leaps in improvement.

The other options do not encapsulate this specific pattern of learning. Gradual improvement suggests a steady rate of progress without emphasizing the initial small gains followed by more substantial advancements. Steady progression implies a consistent and uniform rate of improvement throughout the learning process, which differs from the positively accelerated concept. Immediate adaptation refers to a quick adjustment or response to new information or changes, but it does not account for the initial slow gains followed by later significant improvements. Thus, positively accelerated correctly depicts the learning trajectory described in the question.