[quoting Reeves, 3 Apr 96] A typical taxonomy of internal learning states as defined by contemporary cognitive psychologists includes constructs such as "simple propositions, schema, rules, general rules, skills, general skills, automatic skills, and mental models" (Kyllonen & Shute, 1989).
I would like to start a discussion of this topic: General skills do not exist.
My argument: Skills are always specific, and the more skilled you are the more specific they become. Let me illustrate. I can drive. This is a skill. When I rent a car I have certain problems. Like I can't find the windshield wipers, etc. Some of my skills from driving my own car transfer, but only when they are identical in the rentacar. I reach to turn on the windshield wipers but nothing happens. (I follow J. Anderson on this. Transfer is the transfer of specific productions which are a component of an overall skill.) When the car (or country) is different I rely not on skills, but on knowledge of driving to get by. Thus, I reason, "This is a car, therefore there must be a windshield wiper thing here somewhere. Usually it is a button on the dashboard or it is somewhere on one of these damn levers. Let me try a few. Watch out for that bus! Aaaaah! etc.) Thus knowledge has generality, but (true) skills do not. Skills don't transfer to unfamiliar situations, but knowledge does.
I raise this issue because I think it has wide implications.
1. If skills are not general (only knowledge is general) then an educational system that emphasizes skills and stigmatizes ("I can always look that up.") knowledge, will have serious shortcomings.
2. People who are trying to teach general thinking skills are trying to do the impossible.
To let you know my perspective:
I am trying to learn Japanese again. In order to do this you probably need to know at least 100,000 words and expressions, plus maybe 10,000 ways of writing those words and expressions. I am annoyed when people minimize the importance of learning "facts." You cannot just "look these up." This is serious educational work.