Transformational Learning

From: Following Mezirow A Roadmap Through Transformative Learning

Have a look at this interesting page about Transformational Learning from RU Training @ Roosevelt University in Chicago, Graduate Program in Training & Development.  From this page author Daniel Harbecke notes:

“Mezirow outlined transformational learning as it takes place in some variation of the following 10 phases:

  1. A disorienting dilemma;
  2. Self-examination (with feelings of shame or guilt);
  3. A critical assessment of epistemic, sociocultural, or psychic assumptions;
  4. Recognition of a connection between one’s discontent and the process of transformation;
  5. Exploration of options for new roles, relationships, and actions;
  6. Planning a course of action;
  7. Acquisition of knowledge and skills for implementing one’s plan;
  8. Provisional trying of new roles;
  9. Building of competence and self-confidence in new roles and relationships;
  10. A reintegration into one’s life on the basis of conditions dictated by one’s new perspective.”

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In my opinion, this makes a great deal of sense when I consider my own experiences as an adult in a new learning situation, how I integrate new information and how it becomes a building block to the next “new thing”.  Consider how adult students you may instruct will move through this chain of experience as they move through the learning continuum.

I see through the structure of our course work within the PIDP the use of reflection as a tool in our learning path.  This is another element of Mezirow’s theory, again from the article noted above:

“One of the most important aspects of Transformational Learning is what Mezirow called critical reflection: the ability to reflect upon what has been learned to fit the new information into one’s worldview. “

Reference: https://rutraining.org/2012/10/08/following-mezirow-a-roadmap-through-transformative-learning/ accessed April 26, 2017