Error made by learners about current time period (7)
I believe the answer is:
literal
'error' is the definition.
(I know that literal is a type of error)
'learners about current time period' is the wordplay.
'learners' becomes 'LL' (L-plates are seen on learner drivers' cars).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'current' becomes 'I' (symbol for electric current).
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'period' becomes 'era' (era is a kind of period).
'i'+'t'+'era'='itera'
'll' going around 'itera' is 'LITERAL'.
'made by' is the link.
(Other definitions for literal that I've seen before include "According to the letter" , "Tell IRA (anag) - word for word" , "mistake" , "Actual" , "Taking words in their most basic sense" .)