Transfer of Learning- Meaning and Definitions, Types of Transfer of Learning, Factors responsible for transfer of Learning and Educational Implications of Transfer of Learning

Transfer of Learning

While the term transfer of learning is transfer of knowledge the term transfer of training is transfer of skills, which is being used interchangeably. As education is said to be preparation for life, whatever we learn in educational institution, should be useful only when we can apply the same in day-to-day life. Hence, the need for transfer of learning emphasises on application of knowledge in various fields or is a process in which responses are used in one situation which it is acquired.

Meaning and Definitions

The process of carrying over habits of thinking. knowledge, skills and attitude from one learning situation to another is called the transfer of learning. For example, a child will carry over the arithmetical abilities he/she learns in a class room to the solution of problems that he/she may actually face in later life, in business or in the management of personal finances is called transfer of learning.

The following are the definitions of Transfer of Learning:

1. Bigge defines Transfer of learning occurs when a person's learning in one situation influences his learning and performance in other situations."

2. Walter defines "Transfer is the application or carry over of knowledge, skills, habits, attitudes or other responses from one situation in which they were initially acquired to some other situation".

3. Eills defines "Transfer of learning means that experience or performance on one task influences performance on some subsequent task". 

4. Crow and Crow defines "The carry-over habits of thinking, feeling or working of knowledge or of skills, from one learning area to another usually is referred to as the transfer of training". 

5. Sorenson defines "transfer as recognition, use and application to a given situation of knowledge, skills and habits that were learned in another situation".

Types of Transfer of Learning

The following are the different types of transfer of learning.

(a) Positive Transfer: 

When learning in all situation facilitates the learning in another situation is called positive transfer.

(b) Negative Transfer: 

When the learning of one task makes the learning of second task harder is called negative transfer or the previous learning interferes or hinders the learning of new task is called negative transfer. 

(c) Zero Transfer: 

When the learning of one subject or previous learning neither facilitates nor hinders the new learning is called zero transfer.

(d) Vertical Transfer: 

When one lesson facilitates understanding for another lesson in a subject, e.g.. habits and values of the family influences the child to adopt them in their day to day life is called vertical transfer.

(e) Horizontal Transfer: 

When the knowledge of one subject helps in understanding the other subjects, e.g., the knowledge of the history of vedic period helps in understanding the literature of that period is called horizontal transfer.

(f) Bilateral Transfer: 

When the training given to one part of the body is transfered to other part, e.g., writing with right hand may be transfered to the left one is called bilateral transfer.

(g) Unilateral Transfer: 

When the training given to one sided parts of the body is used for future is called unilateral transfer.

Factors responsible for transfer of Learning

Transfer is dependent on a multitude of factors which are given below:

(i) Transfer depends very much upon the intelligence and Innate efficiency of the learner. It depends upon one's ability to generalise and the ability to perceive relationships between two situations. But a dull student learns by rote and hence cannot apply it to a new situation.

(ii) Formation of attitudes and ideals helps one to transfer the knowledge and the skill from one situation to another. 

(iii) Transfer relies heavily on meaningfulness of material. So, proper teaching and encouragement to pupils are essential for transfer of training.

(iv) Transfer depends upon the use of facts learnt Transfer is not possible unless the subject learnt is put into practical use. The transfer of the knowledge of Ethics gained in school to social education is possible only in the event of the students use of the former daily life.

(v) Discovery leads to transfer. When a child discovers the solution to a problem himself, he is likely to transfer this knowledge to the solution of other problems.

(vi) Techniques of learning, congenial environment and motivation to the subject help in transfer of training. 

Educational Implications of Transfer of Learning

(a) Subject matter should be taught and learnt in close contact with its applications. When a child knows that what he/she learns has a bearing beyond the classroom, he/she is strongly motivated to learn it well.

(b) Whatever is taught to the student should have a practical applications in actual life. Thus, good teacher should keep in mind that for greatest transfer the generalizations should be thoroughly mastered and completely understood. 

(c) Students should be encouraged to see beyond specific details to the underlying relationships or principles and provided opportunity for applications of generalization. 

(d) It is now well established fact that greater transfer from subject matter can be achieved by changing the methods of teaching, if the subject matter is taught in isolation from the problems of daily life the utility of the knowledge gained is extremely limited.

(e) Emphasis should be given on developing ideals and attitudes so that proper transfer of learning can take place.

(f) Teacher should know that transfer is not accomplished with equal facility. It depends upon one's ability to generalise his experiences and the ability to perceive relationships between two situations. Thus emphasis should be given on Intelligence and the teacher should teach the student according to the mental ability. 

(g) Teacher should given the meaningful matter in the class and try to develop the attitude for the application of theoretical content into practical life. Students should be made alert to new situations.