Mayer (1999) distinguished two kinds of active learning: behaviorally active learning, engaging in doing something without making sense of the actions or the objects; cognitive active learning, engaging sense making, such as self-explanation. He also classified three prerequisites for problem-solving transfer:
1. Skill: Cognitive Processes (selecting, organizing, and integrating information)
2. Metaskill: metacognitive and self-regulatory processes for planning, orchestrating, and monitoring)
3. Will: Motivational and attitudinal aspects of learning