This book addresses a crucial issue for all involved in education and training: the transfer of learning to new and different contexts. Educators, employers and learners face the problem of ensuring that what is learnt in the classroom is able to be adapted and used in the workplace. The book focuses on adult learners in professional and vocational contexts. The authors aim to provide an accessible book on the transfer of learning which draws on multi-disciplinary perspectives from education, psychology and management. The book is intended to be useful both for postgraduate students and for practitioners wanting to deepen their understanding of transfer and for those interested in practical applications. It combines theory and practice from international research and the authors' own case studies of transfer involving learners engaged in professional development and study towards qualifications. Theories of adult learning, change and lifelong learning are discussed in relation to the transfer of learning. The purpose of this book is to emphasise to tertiary educators and trainers the importance of transfer and in doing so highlight the participants' voices as central foci in coming to an understanding of the process. By doing this, it will balance the literature which has to date emphasized transfer from a trainer's and/or organization's perspective. There has been little if any substantive material on tertiary transfer issues and yet demands are increasing for tertiary education providers to be more accountable and more focused on developing students' ability to use their learning in everyday work situations. The book is unique in that it adopts a phenomenological perspective and underscores the significance of the participants' voices in understanding issues.
Author(s): Sarah Leberman, Lex Mcdonald, Stephanie Doyle
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 131
Contents......Page 6
List of Figures......Page 8
List of Tables......Page 10
Preface......Page 12
Acknowledgements......Page 14
What is Transfer of Learning?......Page 16
Why is Transfer of Learning Important?......Page 17
Overview of Different Levels and Types of Transfer......Page 19
The Transfer Context......Page 20
Summary......Page 21
Formal Disciplines Approach......Page 24
Behavioural Approach......Page 26
Generalisation Approach and Gestalt Theory......Page 27
Cognitive Approaches to Transfer......Page 28
Schema Theory and Transfer......Page 29
Cognitive Apprenticeships......Page 30
Selected Approaches to Transfer......Page 31
Work-based Approaches to Transfer......Page 32
Preparation for Future Learning......Page 42
A General Theory of Transfer......Page 43
Summary......Page 45
Adult Learners......Page 52
Professional Development......Page 55
Change Theories......Page 57
Approaches to Adult Learning......Page 59
Summary......Page 69
Context and Overview......Page 76
Findings......Page 78
Implications for Management......Page 82
Implications for Professional Practice......Page 83
Summary......Page 85
Context and Overview......Page 88
Findings......Page 90
A Transfer of Training Model......Page 99
Summary......Page 101
Context and Overview......Page 104
Findings......Page 107
Implications for Course Design and Delivery......Page 111
Summary......Page 112
Learner Characteristics......Page 114
Course Design......Page 117
Workplace Characteristics......Page 121
Summary......Page 122
Personal and Professional Development......Page 124
Support......Page 127
Preparation for Future Transfer......Page 131
Conclusions......Page 134
Epilogue......Page 135
Appendix: Further Research......Page 138
C......Page 142
E......Page 143
O......Page 144
T......Page 145
W......Page 146
