Achieving Transfer from Mathematics Learning

Abstract

The question of transfer is a special challenge in mathematics teaching because the wide range and fragmentation of the curricula have in many cases fostered an instrumental understanding, which makes transfer difficult for the students. Although promoting a relational learning has been a huge step forward in achieving transfer, understanding usually remains at the technical level of learning. Fostering critical thinking and metacognition raises learning to the psychological level, as students are encouraged to analyse their own thinking. Despite this, our hypothesis is that transfer will only be achieved when students are helped to reach a personal dimension, being encouraged to discover their own way of approaching the global reality of their lives beyond the subject. Learning, for instance, the greatest common divisor should be an opportunity to discover that, as numbers can be presented by their prime factors, people can be recognised by their features and interests. As such, looking for the greatest common divisor should not differ from discovering common interests with friends. Integrating specific and general learning will make transfer no longer unattainable. Personalising learning means discovering how one specific learning impacts on the personal way of understanding reality (oneself, others, and the world), thus making transfer natural.