Transfer of learning involves applying previously acquired knowledge to new situations and is crucial for problem solving and decision making. It can be positive, negative, near, or far, and its effectiveness is influenced by contextual similarity, meaningfulness of learning, instructional time, variety of experiences, and metacognition. Barriers to effective transfer include context-bound knowledge, lack of conditional and conceptual understanding, and inaccurate conceptions of the mind.

1. TRANSFER OF
LEARNING

2. TRANSFER OF LEARNING
• It happens when previous learning is used to acquire new
information.
• It is applying to another situation what was previously
learned.
• The foundation of all learners’ ability to interpret data,
solve problems, make decisions and perform cognitive
tasks.
• “transfer is a process of extending knowledge acquired in
one context to other contexts.” (Byrnes, 2001)

3. TYPES OF TRANSFER
• Positive Transfer occurs when learning in one context
improves performance in some other context.
• Negative Transfer happens when a previous learning
hinders the acquisition of a new learning.
• Near Transfer or Specific Transfer refers to transfer
between very similar contexts.
• Far Transfer or General Transfer refers to transfer
between context that, on appearance, seem remote and
alien on one another.

4. REASONS WHY TRANSFER DOES NOT WORK
(BYRNES)
• Some bits of knowledge are embedded in single context.
Learners fail to transfer what they know because they are
confined to a single context in which knowledge is acquired.
• Lack of conditional knowledge. Conditional means contingent,
dependent or provisional.
• Lack of conceptual knowledge. When students have a deep
understanding of concepts, then they can make possible
transfer because learning a concept leads to understanding
another concept.

5. REASONS WHY TRANSFER DOES NOT WORK
(BYRNES)
• Inaccurate conceptions of the mind. This account for how
students view their minds in relation to learning.
• Lack of metacognition. When students do not possess the
ability to think how their thought processes develop or if
they lack the ability to regulate or monitor their own
thoughts, then they cannot afford to develop transfer.

6. CONDITIONS AND PRINCIPLES FOR
TRANSFER
• Principles that are based on the factors that affect
transfer of learning.
• Also called Conditions of Transfer (Perkins)

7. Conditions/Facto
rs affecting
Transfer of
Learning
Principles of
Transfer
Implication
1. Similarity
between two
learning
situations
The more similar
the two
situations are,
the greater the
chances that
learning from
one situation will
be transferred to
the other
situation.
Involve students
in learning
situations and
tasks that are
similar as
possible to the
situations where
they would apply
the tasks.

8. Conditions/Factors
affecting Transfer
of Learning
Principles of
Transfer
Implication
2. Degree of
meaningfulness/rel
evance of learning
Meaningful
learning leads to
greater transfer
than rote learning.
Remember to
provide
opportunities for
learners to link new
material to what
they learned in the
past.

9. Conditions/Factors
affecting Transfer
of Learning
Principles of
Transfer
Implication
3. Length of
instructional time
The longer the
time spent in
instruction, the
greater the
probability of
transfer.
To ensure transfer,
teach a few topics
in depth rather
than many topics
tackled in a shallow
manner.

10. Conditions/Factors
affecting Transfer
of Learning
Principles of
Transfer
Implication
4. Variety of
learning
experiences
Exposure to many
and varied
examples and
opportunities for
practice
encourages
transfer.
Illustrate new
concepts and
principles with a
variety of
examples. Plan
activities that allow
your learners to
practice their newly
learned skills.

11. Conditions/Factors
affecting Transfer
of Learning
Principles of
Transfer
Implication
5. Context for
learner’s
experiences
Transfer of
learning is most
likely to happen
when learners
discover that what
they learned is
applicable to
various contexts.
Relate a topic in
one subject to
topics in another
subject or
disciplines. Relate
it also to real life
situations.

12. Conditions/Factors
affecting Transfer
of Learning
Principles of
Transfer
Implication
6. Focus on
principles rather
than tasks
Principles transfer
easier than facts.
Zero in on
principles related
to each topic
together with
strategies based on
those principles.

13. Conditions/Factors
affecting Transfer
of Learning
Principles of
Transfer
Implication
7. Emphasis on
metacognition
Student reflection
improves transfer
of learning
Encourage students
to take
responsibility for
their own learning
and to reflect on
what they learned.