Transfer of Training

Past experiences plays significant role in the process of learning. Learning based on past experiences and knowledge provide bases for future learning. Knowledge of one subject applied in another area of study to understand another subject considered as transfer of training. Transfer of training means the experiences or performances of one task which influence the performance of another task.Transfer of training is a set of skills and knowledge acquired in one area transfer to another area. Teaching learning process a quality of performance depends upon the efforts made by learners and teachers in a learning environment. It helps in generalization and application of ideas or principles into practice. Transfer of training may be positive, negative or zero as well. If training of one task improve or facilitates the performance of another task considered as positive transfer. If there is no influence of one performance on another called zero transfer. When past experiences or learning may create hurdle to understand new knowledge known as negative transfer. Learning of one behavioral level in the hierarchy of learning domain facilitates learning at higher behavioral level called vertical transfer. If a child able to transfer his learning in the same context in another situation called lateral transfer of learning.

Transfer of training is very much important in the development process of child. It enables the child to apply our knowledge, skills and experiences to real life situations. Role of the teacher is to provide suitable and appropriate environment to facilitate transfer of training from one discipline to another. Various theories were propounded by different psychologist in this regards. The theory of mental discipline believe that mental exercises can strengthen mental faculties thus, hard intellectual work must provide to the learners.The theory of identical element propounded by thorndike believe that transfer of training from one situation to another occur if two situations have some elements in common because these identical elements have the same cells actions in the brain. Judd’s theory of generalization advocate that transfer of training can be increased by teaching students’ general principles rather than specific solution. There are many factors which may influence transfer of training i.e. intelligence, attitude, learning elements and methods of teaching.

Here, the teacher plays significant role in the process of transfer of training by various means like: a teacher must create some similarity between two sections of knowledge. Teacher must promote discussions on life experiences within the class as students will be able to relate our knowledge with real life situations. Teacher must assist or guide the students to find out the similarities between matters and method of different subjects. The teachers must provide maximum opportunities of practice to promote positive transfer to a subsequent task. Teacher must enable the students to generalize the laws and principles by giving them examples. The teacher must develop a link between different segment of task and experiences in order to develop concept of whole in their mind. General principles and rules should be taught first before coming to point of specific. The sequence of learning should proceed from more inclusive tasks to the more specific aspects of the task.