Download - Transfer of learning
Explain how transfer of learning occurs
Identify the factors that affect transfer of learning
Apply principles of transfer in facilitating transfer of learning
Objectives
Advance Organizer
Transfer of Learning
Types of Transfer
Conditions and Principles of Transfer
Five Stages of Transfer
Refers to the ability to apply knowledge learned in one context to new contexts (Bransford, Brown, and Cocking 1999)
Originally introduced as transfer of practice by Edward Thorndike and Robert S. Woodworth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_of_learning)
Transfer of Learning
Transfer of learning occurs when the learner:
recognizes common features among concepts, skills, or principles
links the information in memory
sees the value of utilizing what was learned in one situation in another
Transfer of Learning (cont.)
If we did not transfer some of our prior knowledge, then each new learning situation would start from scratch.
Is transfer of learning important?
Assumption of education: what is taught in a course will be used in relevant situations in other courses, in the workplace and out of school
Is transfer of learning important?
SOURCE: http://www.slideshare.net/FydaRahim/transfer-of-learning-29002564
All new learning involves transfer based on previous learning (Bransford, 41).
Is transfer of learning important?
It occurs when learning in one context improves performance in some other context.
Positive Transfer
!
Japanese Language
Mexican Language
It occurs when learning in one context impacts negatively on performance in another.
Negative Transfer
Negative Transfer (cont.)
Example:
A student previously learned that when thesubject is singular, you will put an ‘s’ at the end ofthe verb and when it is plural, you do not put an‘s’ at the end of the verb. However, the subjects‘I’ and ‘You’ do not follow the rule. If the studenthave not learned the exception properly, he willbe adding an ‘s’ at the end of the verb.
It refers to transfer between very similar contexts.
Also referred to as specific transfer
Near Transfer
S4
S5
It refers to transfer between contexts that, on appearance, seem remote and alien to one another.
Also referred to as general transfer
Far Transfer
“… that almost magical link between classroom
performance and something which is supposed to
happen in the real world” – Swinney (1989)
“Transfer”
Five Stages of Transfer
Transfer Intention
Transfer Initiation
Partial Transfer
Conscious Maintenance
Unconscious Maintenance
1
2
3
4
5
SOURCE: Foxon, Marguerite. A process approach to the transfer of training. Australian Journal of Educational Technology. 1993, 9 (2), 130 -143
This is the end-of-course motivation of the learner to apply aspects of the learning in the work environment (Huczynski & Lewis, 1980; Noe, 1986).
Five Stages of Transfer (1st Stage)
Transfer Intention
It refers to the attempts to apply any aspect of the learning in the work environment (Laker, 1990), and is a necessary precursor to partial transfer and transfer maintenance.
Five Stages of Transfer (2nd Stage)
Transfer Initiation
It occurs when only some skills are transferred.
Five Stages of Transfer (3rd Stage)
Partial Transfer
In this stage, the learner makes a conscious choice to use the skills whenever their use is appropriate.
Five Stages of Transfer (4th Stage)
Conscious Maintenance
In this stage, the skills have been integrated into job behavior, and transfer has occurred in full.
Five Stages of Transfer (5th Stage)
Unconscious Maintenance
Conditions and Principles of Transfer
Similarity between two learning situations
Degree of meaningfulness/relevance of learning
Length of instructional time
Variety of learning experiences
Context for learner’s experiences
Focus on principles rather than tasks
Emphasis on metacognition
Similarity between two learning situations
Principle of Transfer Implication
The more similar the two situations are, the greater the chances that learning from one situation will be transferred to the other situation.
Involve students in learning situations and tasks that are similar as possible to the situations where they would apply the tasks.
Degree of meaningfulness/relevance of learning
Meaningful learning leads to greater transfer than rote learning
Remember to provide opportunities for learners to link new material to what they learned in the past.
Principle of Transfer Implication
Length of instructional time
The longer the time spent in instruction, the greater the probability of transfer
To ensure transfer, teach a few topics in depth rather than many topics tackled in a shallow manner
Principle of Transfer Implication
Variety of learning experiences
Exposure to many and varied examples and opportunities for practice to encourage transfer
Illustrate new concepts and principles with a variety of examples. Plan activities to practice their newly learned skills.
Principle of Transfer Implication
Context for learner’s experiences
Transfer of learning is most likely to happen when learners discover that what they learned is applicable to various contexts.
Relate topic in one subject to topics in other subjects or disciplines. Relate it also to real life situations.
Principle of Transfer Implication
Focus on principles rather than tasks
Principles transfer is easier than facts
Zero in on principles related to each topic together with strategies based on those principles
Principle of Transfer Implication
Emphasis on metacognition
Student reflection improves transfer of learning
Encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning, and to reflect on what they learned
Principle of Transfer Implication
What does transfer of learning mean?
When can you say that transfer of learning has occurred?
Why is transfer of learning important?
What are the types of transfer?
What are the five stages of transfer?
What are the conditions/factors that affect the transfer of learning?
Summary