Chapter 12: Learning for All: Inquiry Into Transfer Theory at a PDS

In order to deepen the work of our professional development school (PDS), we engaged our entire learning community in an inquiry project aimed at improving the quality of our practice that centered, specifically, on student learning. Our PDS governance committee, concerned with impact of PDS activities on students and teachers, began to wonder why transfer of learning was not occurring across all segments of the learning community. The group used an inquiry approach to examine the question of transfer of learning. This chapter describes the process of this PDS inquiry project and examines the degree to which university faculty and third- through fifth-grade teachers used transfer of learning practices during instruction and assessment. The inquiry process, findings from the current study, and implications of this work for PDSs are all detailed.