Learning in Physical Education: A Transfer of Learning Theory Perspective.

The goal of education is to develop students' capacity to transfer knowledge and skills learned in classrooms to real life. The theory of transfer articulates near transfer (transfer between similar settings) as the foundation for far transfer (between different settings). Purpose: Based on the transfer theory, the purpose of the study was to determine the near transfer in learning caloric-balanced living concepts in high school physical education. Method: High school students (n = 980) participated in the curriculum intervention. They learned knowledge in Unit 1 and applied the concepts in Unit 2. A pre- and postintervention design revealed the extent of knowledge near transfer from Unit 1 to Unit 2. Result: A regression analysis revealed a sizeable transfer with B = 0.32 (p < .001, R 2 = .095; β = 0.32). Conclusion: The finding indicates a strong possibility of knowledge transfer between learning concepts and applying them in physical education.