Transfer Theory

Transfer theory is well grounded and crosses over many disciplines.  In counseling, we learned and used transference theory when working with student, parents, staff, and community members.  When a teacher asked what is wrong with Johnny we would look at his home life, and what may be going on there to formulate a possible answer.  How many times have you had a teacher or staff member say, “Well, when I met Johnny’s father, I knew why he acts the way he does.”  Transfer theory being shown here in its ultimate. 

We as educators usually refer to transfer theory as an aha moment.  Someone explains and explains something to you but until you hang it on something, you have experienced or understand it is as though that individual was speaking Greek. 

When setting up classes for a summer school session where I was principal I took all the students previous years grades, discipline referrals and parent contact information and began the process of looking for the proper “mix” of students for the ultimate learning experience for students.  Using this information and personal experiences with these students, I was able to transfer this knowledge and information into a successful summer school experience for our students.  Some of the teachers could not see the rational in the beginning but over time, they saw “the method to my madness” so to speak.  Students that had only been bullies before were placed in leadership roles began to blossom and academically sore actually befriending those they previously bullied. 

When I was beginning the task of learning how to schedule, I found I went back to learning which occurred many years before.  I worked inventory control for a precision tool bit company in Northwest Arkansas.  I was responsible for making sure I had sufficient product to ship due to the demand for my product.  I was to order new product made when supply was low, entailing making sure there was raw product available, etc.  I found that scheduling students was very similar.   Making sure all classes were full but not overfull yet making sure everything was in their place.  Granted inventory control didn’t have to deal with personalities but it did give me the rudimentary process to start from.  I transferred previous knowledge into another setting. 

Without some knowledge of how education works as well as at least some experience administratively, it would be impossible to step into the shoes of a superintendent. The background (knowledge to transfer) would not be there.  If you had not dealt with teachers, parents, and students in an educational setting, you would not be able to carry out Board Policy completely and appropriately. 

When in Alaska, I was amazed when a counselor from Nevada was hired and sent to a tiny village of 350 in the far northwest.  What concerned me is that Nevada does not require counselors to have any classroom experience to receive this certification.  When this young lady made it to the village and began telling teachers what was wrong in their classrooms and what they needed to change to make their lessons work with their students, well you can imagine.  She did not have any knowledge to transfer into the situation only the theories that came from the books, which she had read.  When she left the village to go back to Nevada in less than a month, I wasn’t surprised.