TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING
Transformative learning is making meaning of an experience, then reconsidering their beliefs, and changing their world view.
Jack Mezirow was the founder of this learning perspective, his original research was about women entering the workforce and colleges. He was interested in people's world views, and the changes of their perspectives when major incidents happen. He focused some of his research on sexual harassment and would have really been interested in the impact of the #MeToo movement.
Humanism and Social Learning
PSYCHOLOGICAL
"Disorienting Dilemma's" are the type of experiences that change a person's worldview. This is an opportunity for critical thinking and is referred to as a "Psychological" engagement.
An adult educator would provide opportunities for learners to have new thoughts and perspectives introduced to them.
CONVICTIONAL
"Convictional" learning is when a learner can find community with their new experience. With the chance to have dialogue and relate to others going through the same changes the learner can find community.
An adult educator would provide the learners the opportunity to engage in dialogue with other learners experiencing the same types of perspectives.
BEHAVIORAL
"Behavioral" learning is the part of the transformation where the learner gets to change their behavior and act upon their new found perspectives.
An adult educator would provide the learners with the opportunity to act upon their new perspective of the world.
“I did an ESL teaching abroad program. I was really excited about teaching and had a lot of new lesson plans. When I started teaching things weren't going very well. I was feeling really let down as an educator and lonely in a foreign country.” -Sam, Transforming Learner
"I met with other ESL teachers abroad and we exchanged ideas about what worked in our respective classrooms." -Sam, Transforming Learner
“Some of the other teachers gave me some ideas about how to connect with the students without structured lesson plans. Things began to go more smoothly in the classroom and my thoughts on how to teach ESL were changed. ” - Sam, Transformed Learner