March 8, 2001

Identify which type of transfer each example is.

Transfer from learning to multiply to learning to raise numbers to a power (like squaring, cubing, etc.). Vertical or lateral

Vertical because multiplying is a precursor to powers.

Transfer from knowing how to use one type of jack to change a tire to being able to use a different type of jack that uses the same idea. Near or far.

Far because the jacks use the same idea, but don’t necessarily look the same.

Transfer from using one type of coffee mug to another type of mug. Near or far.

Near because one mug looks pretty much like another.

Transfer between reading English, which goes left to right, and Hebrew, which goes right to left. Positive or negative.

Negative because the two strategies for reading are opposite.

Transfer from being able to balance on a 4 inch beam to being able to balance on an elevated 4 inch beam. Vertical or lateral

Could be vertical because of the added difficulty of the raised beam, or lateral because it is not necessary to learn in one of the settings before the other.

Transfer from being able to set the alarm on one very basic alarm clock to another slightly more advanced alarm clock. Positive or negative

Positive since the two are only slightly different.

Transfer from being able to read one type of check register to being able to read any type of check register because you understand the principle of deposit and withdrawal. Near or far.

Far because what is transferring is the principle of deposit and withdrawal

Transfer from reading the shuttle bus schedule to reading an airline schedule. Near or far.

Far if you are interpreting the airline schedule as the overhead display in the airport, but near if you are interpreting the airline schedule as the printed schedule.

Ms. Sanders’ kindergarten class is having a lesson on poisons to help the kids avoid them. Here is what the lesson looked like. What is Ms. Sanders doing to aid in original learning and/or transfer.

1. She has set the classroom up to look like a kitchen.

2. Underneath the “sink” she has placed common household chemicals labeled with the “Mr. Yuck” sign.

3. She starts by asking the kids if they are allowed to touch bottles like that and what their mothers have told them about it.

4. She has a great big picture of the “Mr. Yuck” label for poisons which she shows them and asks them to act out what “yuck” means to them.

5. She explains what the “Mr. Yuck” symbol means and what happens if you eat or drink something with that symbol.

6. She shows a whole bunch of real bottles with the symbol and without and has the kids say which they could and could not drink and why.

7. She has them go to the “sink” and point out the safe bottles.

8. She gives them homework to go home and look for “Mr. Yuck” labels in their own kitchens along with their parents. She gives them extra “Mr. Yuck” labels to put on bottles their parents tell them to.

Imagine you are responsible for teaching a class of middle schoolers how to behave at a fancy honors dinner and ceremony that is coming up at the end of the school year. This is a case that needs to have good positive transfer. How would you design a lesson or series of lessons about table etiquette to prepare them for this event to ensure that the transfer occurred?