Medical Spanish
Learning Transfer Segment
Cognitive Theory and Learning Transfer was one of the most important courses I took during my graduate studies, because as a facilitator one must ensure that his or her students are not only learning, but they are able to apply their learning and transfer it in different contexts.
My study was to design a learning transfer segment to facilitate the Spanish communication process of health care professionals and ancillary medical staff with Hispanic patients. The purpose of my instructional segment was not for the learners to become proficient in the Spanish language, or to become medical interpreters, but to provide the learners with the necessary and relevant vocabulary, dialogue and grammar skills for the learner to perform their job duties effectively, but most importantly be able to transfer their knowledge in different medical settings. I paid particular attention to the learning environment, initial assessment, instructional methodologies, and critical reflection on transfer.
The foundation and theoretical framework for this study was based on the work of Leann M.R. Kaiser, Karen Kaminski, and Jeffrey M. Foley in their book "Learning Transfer in Adult Education." This was one of the most comprehensive studies of my graduate work, because it included everything a facilitator must be aware of from before students even enter the learning environment, to how they will transfer their learning after the course ends. It was a great learning experience for me.
Ana Victoria
