Transfer of Learning
Transfer of Learning
Transfer of learning is the effect of what has already been learnt on new learning. It is positive when the old learning helps, negative when it interferes, and zero when it has no effect. A teacher's job is to plan for positive transfer and to anticipate where negative transfer will trip children up.
The three types
| Type | Meaning | Class 1-5 example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | Old learning helps new learning | Knowing addition speeds up multiplication |
| Negative | Old learning hinders new learning | Hindi spelling habits causing English spelling errors |
| Zero | No effect either way | Learning a song and learning subtraction |
Direction matters too. Horizontal transfer applies learning to a task at the same level — using addition of two digits to add three digits. Vertical transfer uses it to climb to a higher level — using addition to build multiplication.
Negative transfer in the primary classroom
- A child who learns that 'ph' is read as in 'phal' reads 'phone' wrongly at first.
- A child taught that multiplication always makes bigger struggles when fractions arrive.
- A child fluent in one script writes English letters right to left in the first weeks.
Negative transfer is not a sign of a weak child. It is a sign that an earlier rule was learnt as absolute. The remedy is to state the boundaries of a rule when it is first taught.
Theories of transfer
- Theory of identical elements (Thorndike) — transfer happens only to the extent that the two tasks share identical elements.
- Theory of generalisation (Judd) — what transfers is the general principle, so teaching for understanding transfers more than teaching for procedure.
- Theory of mental discipline — the old view that hard subjects strengthen the mind in general; largely rejected today.
How a teacher increases positive transfer
- Teach the underlying principle, not only the steps.
- Point out similarities and differences between the new topic and the old one openly.
- Give varied practice and varied contexts so learning is not tied to one setting.
- Use examples from the child's own life so the learning has somewhere to go.
✗ Negative transfer means the child has not studied enough. | ✓ Negative transfer means an old rule is being applied where it does not hold.
संकेत: सकारात्मक स्थानांतरण = पुराना ज्ञान मदद करे; नकारात्मक = बाधा डाले; शून्य = कोई असर नहीं।
One question per paper, usually giving an example and asking for the type. Read carefully for whether the old learning helped or hindered. The repeated trap is calling a case of interference 'zero transfer'. Another asks which theory says that generalised principles transfer — Judd, not Thorndike. Thorndike's identical elements theory limits transfer to shared components, which is why he doubted that studying Latin improves reasoning in general.
Frequently asked questions
What is negative transfer of learning with an example?
It is when earlier learning interferes with new learning. A child who has learnt that adding always makes a number larger struggles when adding negative numbers or fractions later, because the old rule is applied where it no longer holds.
What is the difference between horizontal and vertical transfer?
Horizontal transfer applies learning to another task at the same level of difficulty. Vertical transfer uses learning as the base for a higher, more complex skill, as addition becomes the base for multiplication.
How can a teacher promote positive transfer?
By teaching the general principle behind a procedure, showing where it applies and where it does not, giving practice in varied situations, and linking every new topic explicitly to what the child already knows.
60-second recap
- Transfer = effect of old learning on new learning: positive, negative or zero.
- Horizontal transfer is sideways; vertical transfer builds a higher skill.
- Negative transfer comes from rules learnt as absolute — state their limits.
- Thorndike: identical elements. Judd: generalisation of principles.
- Teach principles and vary the context to maximise positive transfer.
Ab isi chapter ke questions CTET Paper 1 mock test me practice karo — Thorndike, Pavlov, Skinner aur Bandura ke sawaal wahin milenge.