Mapping for Learning: Learning and Transfer

1
Mapping for Learning Learning and Transfer

• Based on
• National Research Council. (2000). How People
  Learn Brain, Mind, Experience, and School.
  National Academy Press. Washington, D. C.

2
Transfer

• Transfer can be defined as the ability to extend
  what has been learned in one context to new
  contexts
• Measures of transfer play an important role in
  assessing the quality of peoples learning
  experiences.

3
Key Characteristics of Learning and Transfer

• Initial learning
• Abstract representations versus contextualized
  knowledge
• Transfer - an active, dynamic process rather than
  a passive end-product
• New learning involves transfer based on previous
  learning

4
Elements that Promote Initial Learning

• Understanding versus memorizing
• Time to learn
• Feedback
• Motivation

5
Other Factors that Influence Transfer

• Context - Transfer across contexts
• Multiple representations
• What is learned versus what is tested
• Abstracted representations become components of
  schemata
• Dynamic process
• Metacognition

6
All New Learning Involves Transfer

• Building on existing knowledge
• Understanding conceptual change
• Transfer and cultural practices
• Between school and everyday life
• Metacognitive approach