FAA Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI)The Teaching Process and MethodsHard
A student pilot who trained exclusively in an aircraft with a control yoke transitions to a light sport aircraft equipped with a center stick. During early flare practice in the new aircraft, the student repeatedly pulls back too abruptly, a habit carried over from yoke training, causing the aircraft to balloon. This is best described as—
- APositive transfer of learning
- BAn application of the law of primacy
- CAn application of the law of recency
- DNegative transfer of learning
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Negative transfer of learning
Negative transfer occurs when previously learned habits or skills interfere with learning a new task. The student's yoke-based control inputs are inappropriate for the stick and are hindering performance in the new aircraft.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Positive transfer would help, not hinder, performance in the new aircraft.
- B. Law of primacy relates to what is learned first being remembered strongly, not the transfer effect itself.
- C. Law of recency relates to recently learned material being remembered best, not skill interference.
Transfer of Learning
The influence that prior learning has on new learning; positive transfer helps, while negative transfer hinders acquisition of a new skill.
- Positive transfer aids new learning
- Negative transfer interferes with new learning
- Instructors should identify and correct negative transfer early
Memory trick: 'Old habits die hard' — carried-over habits can help or hurt new learning.