Transfer of Learning Theory

The transfer of learning theory is a vital piece of the puzzle in education.  It is imperative that students take the information that they learn within the classroom and use those skills out in the real world.  This is also true of teachers, administrators, and central office staff.  Information and concepts learned in professional development activities must be taken and put into the context where it will be used.  The transfer of learning theory is a way of learning information and then transferring it to other situations or concepts.  It is a process which has been practiced and tweaked as it was being learned, and now it is being applied to new situations in a subconscious, yet effective manner. 

One example of the transfer of learning theory is the way students learn to problem-solve and work in collaborative groups.  Students are taught the rules and regulations of collaborative learning within the classroom.  However, when they reach a position in the real world, they are expected to take the knowledge of collaborative learning and transfer that knowledge to new situations and expectations.  Businesses around the nation and around the world are asking for students to have job ready skills that can be applied in the workforce.  The transfer theory of learning is a way to solve such an issue.  If students are being taught skills that can be used in the workforce, such as teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving, then they will be able to transfer their knowledge and be a smarter and more efficient worker. 

 
Because so many skills are learned while being a campus level administrator, it is essential that leadership experience be required.  As new ideas are learned and new skills are formed at the campus level, those skills and ideas can be transferred to a higher administrative level.  Knowing the workings of a campus and how to deal with the many issues that arise will help make a central office level administrator more effective and have a better skill set to work within a new position.