What does "transfer of learning" refer to?

"Transfer of learning" refers specifically to the ability to apply skills or knowledge acquired in one situation to new and different situations. This concept is fundamental in educational psychology and instructional theory, as it emphasizes the importance of not only learning information but being able to utilize that information effectively in various contexts.

When learners can take what they have understood or mastered in one setting—such as a classroom or training environment—and apply it to real-world situations or different academic disciplines, they demonstrate transfer of learning. This is particularly important in fields like the Navy, where skills learned for one specific task or environment must often be adapted to others.

Other concepts such as assessing skills, repetitively reviewing material, or merely combining different subjects do not capture the essence of how knowledge and skills interrelate across different contexts. Transfer of learning is focused specifically on that application, which is why it is simply the best choice in this scenario.