Revisiting Thorndike's theory of transfer

Transfer learning

Transfer learning. It does have a romanticised aspect to it – learn this and you can transfer these skills and knowledge to many things in life! It is such a great idea that has helped many teachers and students work outside the curriculum and make more explicit connections to the real world. But how far can we push the envelope with transfer learning, and how can we understand it better, to make it more effective?

My experience with transfer learning

I have a friend who has an expensive new car with flashy features that I do not have in my car. She throws me the keys and encourages me to drive it – I’m anxious. Nonetheless, I grasped the keys as they were flying through the air and I was ready to go. I looked at the keys and I was trying to find the button that opened the door – there was none. My first unsuccessful transfer of skill. Continue reading on Substack

Further reading

https://www.aft.org/ae/spring2020/debruyckere_kirschner_hulshof