Surface, Deep, & Transfer

When to use the Strategies Matters!

"What and when are equally important when it comes to instruction that has an impact on learning. Approaches that facilitate students' surface-level learning do not work equally well for deep learning, and vice versa. Matching the right approach with the appropriate phase of learning is the critical lesson to be learned." - Hattie, Fisher and Frey (Visible Learning for Mathematics, 2017)

SURFACE

"Surface learning does not mean superficial learning. Rather, surface learning is a time when students initially are exposed to concepts, skills, and strategies. Surface learning is critical because it provides a foundation on which to build as students are asked to think more deeply." - Hattie, Fisher and Frey (Visible Learning for Mathematics, 2017)

DEEP

"We define deep learning as a period when students consolidate their understanding and apply and extend some surface learning knowledge to support deeper conceptual understanding . . . We think of this as a 'sweet spot' that will often take up more instructional time, but can be accomplished only when students have the requisite knowledge to go deeper." - Hattie, Fisher and Frey (Visible Learning for Mathematics, 2017)

TRANSFER

"Transfer learning [is] the point at which students take their consolidated knowledge and skills and apply what they know to new scenarios and different contexts. It is also a time when students are able to think metacognitively, reflecting on their own learning and understanding." - Hattie, Fisher and Frey (Visible Learning for Mathematics, 2017)

Jigsaw (1.20)

Integrate Prior Knowledge (0.93)

Scaffolding (0.82)

Summarization (0.79)

Mnemonics (0.76)

Vocabulary Programs (0.60)

Note Taking (0.50)

Summarization (0.79)

Mnemonics (0.76)

Rehearsal & Memorization (0.73)

Organizing and Transforming Notes (0.85)

Class Discussion (0.82)

Elaboration & Organization (0.75)

Reciprocal Teaching (0.74)

Vocabulary Programs (0.60)

Concept Mapping (0.64)

Summarization (0.79)

Self Questioning (0.55)

Teacher Questioning (0.48)

Surface, Deep, & Transfer

SURFACE

DEEP

TRANSFER

Jigsaw (1.20)

Integrate Prior Knowledge (0.93)

Scaffolding (0.82)

Summarization (0.79)

Mnemonics (0.76)

Vocabulary Programs (0.60)

Note Taking (0.50)

Summarization (0.79)

Mnemonics (0.76)

Rehearsal & Memorization (0.73)

Organizing and Transforming Notes (0.85)

Class Discussion (0.82)

Elaboration & Organization (0.75)

Reciprocal Teaching (0.74)

Vocabulary Programs (0.60)

Concept Mapping (0.64)

Summarization (0.79)

Self Questioning (0.55)

Teacher Questioning (0.48)

Organizing or Transforming Conceptual Knowledge (0.85)

Class Discussion (0.82)

Problem-Solving Teaching (0.68)

Synthesizing Information across texts (0.63)

Peer Tutoring (0.53)