EDUC 251 - EdPsych

Transfer

The ability to extend what has been learned in one context to new contexts

Low Road Transfer

Involves the spontaneous, automatic transfer of highly practiced skills, with little need for reflective thinking. Results from extensive practice of a skill in a variety of contexts until it becomes flexible and developed to automaticity

High Road Transfer

An individual purposely and consciously applies general knowledge, a strategy, or a principle learned in one situation to a different situation. Mindful abstraction is the defining feature

Positive Transfer

Previous learning benefits learning on new tasks

Negative Transfer

Previous learning hinders learning on new tasks

Zero Transfer

Previous learning has no effect on the performance of a new task

Near Transfer

involves applying prior knowledge to new situations that are very similar, but not identical to, the learning context

Far Transfer

applying prior knowledge to a context that is very different from the learning context

Vertical Transfer

Using what you previously know to understand a more complex topic (ex. using add., sub., and mult. principles to learn division)

Lateral Transfer

Using what you previously know to understand a topic of equal complexity (ex. using math to understand population on a map)

Specific Transfer

Edward Thorndike’s theory (1923, 1924) that transfer will occur between two learning tasks if the new skill or behavior contains elements that are identical to a skill or behavior from the original task

General Transfer

Proposes that broad-based cognitive faculties can “leap” across very different learning situations because these general abilities are the same in both contexts

Abstraction

The process of retrieving meaningful information (that has been consciously learned and actively memorized) and applying it to a new learning context.

Metacognition

Our awareness, monitoring, and regulation of our thinking

Problem-Solving Transfer

Type of high road transfer: A general strategy or principle that we have learned from solving one type of problem and apply it to solve another type of problem

Analogical Transfer

Type of high road transfer: involves creating or using an existing analogy to aid in understanding a new concept (ex. orbit of planet similar to orbit of electron)

Forward-Reaching Transfer

Type of high road transfer: involves learning a principle or strategy so well that an individual selects it quickly and easily when it is needed in future situations (ex. student with deep understanding of geometry easily using principles in other classes, future career, etc.)

Backward-Reaching Transfer

Type of high road transfer: occurs when an individual deliberately looks for strategies or principles learned in the past to solve a current problem or task

Recognition

Ability to detect a link between the new situation and prior knowledge

Mapping

Making appropriate connections between the original and the new problem

Convergent Thinking

Obtaining the right answer to a question

Learning Context

Where original knowledge is transferred from