News From the Field

January 23, 2013

Brief History

• In 1975 Jack Mezirow introduced concept of “perspective transformation” and “transformative learning”

Transformative learning is “[…] an approach to teaching based on promoting change, where educators challenge learners to critically question and assess the integrity of their deeply held assumptions about how they relate to the world around them.” (Mezirow & Taylor, 2010, p.xi).

• 1st Conf Held in 1998 Teachers College Columbia University.• Conference has continued to convene every 18-14 months at

various North American locations and in Athens, Greece in 2011.

Evolution of Transformative Learning

• Scholars and practitioners have questioned its focus on cognitive learning and on the individual, and Western bias.

• Movement toward inclusion of other perspectives:– Whole person (Yorks and Kasl)– Ecological (O’Sullivan)– Non-Western (King)– Role of emotions, imagination (Boyd, Dirkx)– Neuroscience (Taylor and Lamoreaux)– Spirituality (Tisdell)– Consciousness studies (Schlitz, Vietan, & Amorak, 2007).

Our Questions

• What language/terminology are various scholars and practitioners currently using to describe and define transformative learning? What differences are we seeing across fields and practice settings?

• What research and thinkers are being referenced in the current conversation?

• What new topics and questions are surfacing in relationship to TL?

What empirical research is being done?

What is happening in TL that is relevant to our interest in mentoring and fostering and sustaining learning communities? What can we learn about sustaining learning communities in the midst of change

Implications for Practice

What lessons are we learning that can guide our work with

adult learners?

Emerging Research

• Transformative Learning Survey (Cranton, Stuckey, Taylor)– https://www.research.net/s/

TransformativeLearningSurvey

Tuesday, January 292-4PM

Learning with the Brain in Mind

Wednesday, February 65:30-8PM

What if Every Community Were a Learning Community?

Tuesday, February 19Noon-1:15PM

News From the Field