Horizontal and vertical transfer framework for guiding AI-assisted problem posing¶

Design · All designs
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 qualitative), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The study employs a conceptual framework, adapted from the authors' prior work on transfer of learning and Jonassen's problem-solving framework, in which problem posing proceeds by "horizontal transfer, where the reader takes explicit information from the problem and tries to align it with pre-created knowledge structures, and vertical transfer, where a reader actively recognizes features of a situation, activating and applying prior knowledge". Horizontal transfer changes a problem's representation or context while keeping the approach the same; vertical transfer alters complexity and requires applying concepts more deeply. The framework was taught in the training video to give students a theoretically grounded basis for posing problems with Gen AI as a guide.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

Students receive training that introduces the framework and prompt-engineering techniques before posing problems

Constraints¶

In prior studies students were not trained with a conceptual framework for posing new problems; this study adapts one to fill that gap

Target Learners¶

prospective engineering majors in first-semester calculus-based physics

Learning Goals¶

transfer of learning in physics problem solving
problem-posing skills

Claims¶

Students hold generally positive attitudes toward Gen AI-assisted problem posing, with a minority mixed or negative [+M]

Patterns Used¶

Transfer of Learning: problem posing proceeds by horizontal transfer (new context, same approach) and vertical transfer (greater complexity, deeper concepts)

Three-phase Gen AI problem-posing activity — the activity in which students applied this framework
Prompt engineering training before Gen AI self-study

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

Lindsay Dawson, N. Sanjay Rebello. (2026). Exploring Students' Perceptions of Using Generative AI-Assisted Problem Posing. https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.12523

Page metadata

Field	Value
`type`	`design`
`id`	`horizontal-vertical-transfer-problem-posing-framework`
`title`	`Horizontal and vertical transfer framework for guiding AI-assisted problem posing`
`description`	`The study employs a conceptual framework, adapted from the authors' prior work on transfer of learning and Jonassen's problem-solving framework, in which problem posing proceeds by "horizontal transfer, where the read...`
`status`	`review`
`generated`	by `process:settle-candidates` on `2026-10-10`
`trust`	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
`sources`	1 — `lindsay-dawson-2026`

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