22DBU2 TRANSFER OF LEARNING

Transfer of Learning

Instructional theory focuses on how to structure learning materials in to allow for easy understanding of concepts . It encourages the use of interactive , cooperative and participatory teaching strategies that ensure active involvement of students . Learning theory , on the other hand , attempts to describe and explain how people learn it also explores the circumstances and conditions under which an individual learns best . Learning theories may fall under three different categories which are cognitivism , behaviorism , and constructivism

Certain conditions of learning enhance learning by students . Visual aids , physical objects

, active participation by students and feedbacks on their performance is essential to assimilation by students and transfer of knowledge (Cambourne

Transfer of learning plays a very important role in learning because it is one of the major determinants of the level of assimilation of students . Transfer is said to have taken place when a student can use the knowledge or concepts learned in one context in another context whether similar or not (Mestre , 2002

Learning processes should be explicit and enhance students understanding . While explaining probability to a grade eight class , I used red and blue balls including the example of coin tossing to illustrate the concept of probability to the students the use of physical objects enhanced the learning process . Explaining probability by relating it to coin tossing , which is a familiar activity also increased their understanding . This is in support of the cognitive theory (Barrett , 2003 . Over time , I have also found that the use of graphics and pictures to represent concepts allows students to learn faster . According to Mestre , transfer of knowledge is greatly dependent on previous knowledge . Transfer of learning is also hastened when s learnt are spaced out sufficiently so that students do not get confused (2002

References

Barrett , C (2003 . Cognitive Learning Theory - Web Quest . Retrieved April 2 , 2008 from

website : http /suedstudent .syr .edu ebarrett /ide621 /cognitive .htm

Cambourne , B . Brian Cambourne 's Conditions of Learning . Retrieved April 2 , 2008 from website : http /www .elizabethstps .vic .edu .au /cambourne .htm

Mestre , J (2002 . Transfer of Learning : Issues and Research Agenda National Science Foundation

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Transfer of Learning...