Which term describes previously acquired skills necessary for further learning?

The term that accurately describes previously acquired skills necessary for further learning is "transfer of learning." This concept refers to the application of skills, knowledge, and abilities learned in one context to new situations or tasks. Transfer of learning emphasizes the importance of building on existing knowledge; it enables learners to apply what they already know to understand and master new concepts or skills. For instance, if a nurse has learned effective communication techniques in one healthcare setting, they can transfer that knowledge to new roles, facilitating better interactions with patients and colleagues in different environments.

While experiential factors, reinforcement, and chunking may play roles in the learning process, they do not specifically address the utilization of previously acquired skills in new learning contexts as effectively as transfer of learning does. Experiential factors relate to the influence of one's previous experiences on learning but do not fully capture the notion of applying learned skills to new areas. Reinforcement refers to the process of encouraging or establishing a behavior through rewards or consequences, and chunking is a strategy used to break down information into smaller, manageable pieces for easier learning and retention. These concepts are important in their own right, but none directly convey the idea of building upon previously learned skills for further learning as accurately as transfer of learning.