Teachers hope their students will take what they learn in class into real-life settings, such as studying water cycles for environmental sustainability or fractions to help them double a recipe.
This study explored both within- and cross-language transfer of phonological awareness (PA) skills for reading among emergent Hindi-English bilinguals. Results demonstrated that PA in one language significantly predicted decoding in another.
Theory of Identical Elements
The theory of identical elements is established in the transfer of learning, proposing that transfer can occur when elements from both contexts have similar or identical structures – for instance, if someone has learned how to solve an addition problem in one setting, they can apply their knowledge easily to other situations that require similar analytical reasoning skills.
Edward Thorndike first proposed this theory through a series of experiments that tested his hypothesis. His experiments confirmed his finding that transfer of learning is directly proportional to similarity between tasks; more remarkable similarity leads to faster and more effective transference.
This theory states that training should focus on emphasizing the essential features or principles in order to encourage trainees to develop strategies they can employ across multiple scenarios rather than being limited by learning only specifics of one situation. This approach can be beneficial when training interpersonal skills – for instance, handling an angry customer becomes much simpler when you already possess conflict resolution techniques that can be applied across a variety of situations.
The Stimulus Generalization Approach is another theory in the transfer of learning that provides insights into its process. According to this theory, transfer of knowledge occurs due to repeated practice: repetition allows your brain to associate new information with existing memory structures by pairing it with familiar stimuli (such as images or videos). Therefore, learners must receive plenty of opportunities to practice new skills and make progress over time.
Though defining and measuring the transfer of learning may be subjective, its significance cannot be overlooked. Transfer of learning research has numerous practical uses that range from improving formal education programs to helping students align their educational experiences with career goals.
Theory of Generalization
The Theory of Generalization is a widely held learning theory that suggests transfer occurs when similar or identical elements exist between original and transferred contexts. Its basis lies in people being able to recognize patterns and principles they can then use to deduce new information – this ability differs depending on your intelligence level as well as impacting how you perceive and think about certain situations.
Charles Judd developed this theory of learning. According to this model, one learns one specific task and then applies this knowledge learned in another situation, with its degree of success mainly depending on similarities between cases. This theory can be seen as a precursor of the cognitive perspective on transfer – which recognizes that training and learning don’t always align directly with an individual’s career goals.
Although numerous studies have been done to test this theory, its efficacy remains uncertain. There is some evidence of learning being transferred across disciplines when training environments are very different; one study demonstrated this by training the dominant hand for juggling as it enhanced the performance of its non-trained counterpart and resulted in more excellent retention of higher performance than before the training compared with controls.
Educators should take note of how the mental capabilities of their students affect the transfer of learning from one situation to the next, which will allow them to create tailored learning environments that support students in pursuing their respective careers and needs. There is an array of resources available to teachers and trainers that can assist in understanding the transfer of learning and how best to facilitate it during formal learning experiences of their students. Teachers should incorporate recommended publications and best practices for integrating transfer into their lessons, while educators should ensure that learners engage with the material meaningfully (such as project-based learning ). This will help retain what knowledge has been acquired as well as use it later on.
Theory of Transposition
This theory does not emphasize teaching specific skills, facts, or principles but instead transmitting perceptions of relationships between stimuli (e.g., shapes) and outcomes (such as music). Thus, learners recognize how stimuli such as shapes can be associated with one or more other stimulants (like music); for instance, if one student learned to identify patterns in geometric shapes, they could apply their knowledge when trying to recognize musical patterns.
Gestalt psychologists championed this theory, believing that learning occurs most effectively when information is perceived in its entirety and not piecemeal. Thus, learners can make connections between previous experiences and newer ones and transfer what they have gained more effectively to new situations.
Thorndike’s experiments demonstrate the significance of intelligence as an influential factor in positive transfer. Brighter pupils comprehend subjects more efficiently, master them quicker, and retain information better than average; furthermore, they overlearn material more quickly to facilitate greater transference.
An additional factor influencing positive transference is a pupil’s experience. Teachers should provide varied learning experiences so their pupils may acquire various abilities that will benefit them in future situations.
Thirdly, the similarity between the original and new situations plays a large part in the transfer. Suppose a student learned to recognize geometric shapes, for example. In that case, applying this skill when learning musical patterns should not present any difficulties as their overall appearance and concept are similar.
Teachers looking to achieve maximum positive transfer should teach subjects in such a way that they provide relevance for learners’ vocation and life activities, and this can be accomplished by offering subjects with practical value while encouraging scientific curiosity, initiative, originality, and resourcefulness in learners.
Studies have demonstrated that traditional interpretations of transposition theory – either absolute or relational – are too simplistic for the results obtained in many types of transfer studies, prompting more sophisticated formulations that incorporate both relative and absolute stimuli properties into account.
Theory of Ideals
W.C Bagley first proposed The Theory of Ideas as a learning approach that focused on ideals rather than mere common elements. He asserted that transference could be easier if generalized attitudes were elevated to ideal status and given an emotional tone, such as neatness. These ideals can then be taught and nurtured within children through specific subjects – for instance; arithmetic work may provide the standard of neatness that then can quickly transfer over into other classes and situations; punctuality, hard work, and honesty also lend themselves easily to other problems.
Thorndike’s experiments indicate that transfer depends heavily on the intelligence of the learner. Brighter pupils seem to comprehend and master subjects more quickly. Furthermore, they remember and over-learn more due to a better grasp of the subject matter as well as its application.
Three essential conditions must exist for maximum transfer: firstly, the content taught must be meaningful and relevant to real-life situations; secondly, teachers should thoroughly explain subject-matter in all its minute details – for instance, when teaching language grammar, this should include not only pronunciation and idiom rules but all aspects such as syntax, etc.; similarly, history and geography should cover every angle and facet possible. Thirdly, pupils must be encouraged to apply their knowledge in various situations – these practical subjects develop many abilities, such as scientific curiosity, initiative, originality, and resourcefulness, among many other skills that help create these abilities as well.
The ideal theory provides us with a framework to visualize this ideal and provide normative guidance that may assist in contributing towards this utopia, but a perfect view cannot resolve all problems faced in actual societies.
The ideal theory has another issue when it comes to its definition of society: idealists rely on categories and abstractions when creating models of societies – something critics such as Rawls and Neitsche have severely critiqued.
