Transfer of Learning
Transfer of Learning
Transfer of learning is the adoption of knowledge or skills that one has obtained in a situation to another but related situation which is different. Transfer of learning is essential in learning and teaching as it is the process of being able to transfer what has been learned to different tasks and the skills you need for doing that which in turn helps to deepen your understanding as well as develop your ability to solve problems.
What are the types of transfer of learning?
Transfer of learning can be examined in two general respects, right transfer and wrong transfer. Right transfer refers to the situation of when assimilation of new knowledge in one area is followed by the enhancement of a previously learned skill in other areas, for example, learning and practicing algebra give you a better grasp of calculus. Wrong transfer refers to the situation of when initial knowledge affects the performance of a new task negatively, for example, using a software application knownt be older than the current one, to learn a new program.
How can educators facilitate transfer of learning?
The examples of actual and relevant research links as well as the use of active learning strategies can be a means for educators to move the learning transfer along. For example, project-based learning is a method by which students can tackle realistic problems involving the application of theoretical concepts in such a way that they expand their knowledge and learn better and transfer the skills of dealing with problems in other contexts.
What role does practice play in the transfer of learning?
The transfer of learning, the process through which students develop their skills and deepen their knowledge by engaging with a given learning task, is of utmost importance to practice, as the frequent meeting with new ideas supports the mental reconstruction and neural reorganization of the brain. Let us take the case of a traditional musician who regularly does the scales - he is a musician who does not require any further time learning the techniques to apply them to the interpretation of a music sheet, which is all thanks to the very thorough practice he has gone through (the original scale). This can serve to illustrate the excellent ability to transfer learning to other contexts instruments achieved by disciplined p.
What are some barriers to effective transfer of learning?
Inadequate transfer of learning due to lack of prior knowledge, inadequate practice, and unidentification of the similarities of tasks are major barriers. For example, a physics student showing difficulty in relating to real-life circumstances because of their lack of understanding may often find it hard to use the same concept in engineering, bringing out the importance of making these connections clear.