Jack Mezirow Transformational Learning TL Karissa Glass Jack

Jack Mezirow Transformational Learning (TL) Karissa Glass

• Jack Mezirow • Transformational learning: • Idea of people changing the way they interpret their experiences and their experiences with the world. • To “transform” the view of oneself, the world, or how they interact with people and the environment around them. • Late 70 s early 80 s • 83 adult women • Reentry program to college after a long break • 12 programs across the states: Washington, California, New York, and New Jersey • In-depth interviews • The women had undergone changes in their perspectives as a result of their experiences upon reentering college.

• TL is a perspective transformation in which the student critically examines their past interpretations to create a new meaning to go along with what they are experiencing. • “A structural change in the way we see ourselves and our relationships. ” • Developmental process • Process of using past interpretations to create a new meaning or edit a past meaning of one’s experiences so they can direct future actions. • Attempts to explain how our expectations, which are included in our cultural presuppositions, directly influence the definitions we get from experiences. • 3 common themes • Centrality of experience • Critical reflection • Rational discourse

• 10 phases of TL • Disorienting dilemma • Self-examination • Conducting a critical assessment of internalized assuptions and feeling a sense of alienation from traditional social expectations • Relating discontent to the similar experiences fo others – seeing that the problem is shared • Exploring options for new ways of acting • Building competence and self-confidence in new roles • Planning a course of action • Acquiring the knowledge and skills for implementing a new course of action • Trying out new roles and assessing them • Reintegrating into society with the other perspective

• Habermans’ communicative theory • Instrumental learning • Communicative learning • Perspective transformation • Meaning structures • Meaning schemes • Signs of our habits that effect a particular behavior • Meaning perspective • Often attained uncritically in childhood through socialization • When these are challenged it brings us to phase one of the ten phases of TL

• The life experiences of the student give a starting point for transformational learning in the classroom. • Environment for TL • • Full information Free from coercion Equal opportunity to assume particular roles Become critically reflective of assumptions, empathetic, and good listeners • Willing to look for common ground or synthesis of different points of view • Ways to stimulate TL in the classroom • • Journal writing Metaphors Life history exploration Learning contracts Group projects Role play Case studies Literature to stimulate critical consciousness • TL comes about in discussion and exploration of ideas relating

Works Cited Cooper, Sunny. "Jack Mezirow Transformational Learning. " Theories of Learning in Educational Psychology. N. p. , n. d. Web. 5 Apr. 2015. <http: //www. lifecirclesinc. com/Learningtheories/humanist/mezirow. html>. "Transformative Learning Theory— An Overview. " calproonline. org. N. p. , n. d. Web. 5 Apr. 2015. <http: //www. calproonline. org/eric/docs/taylor_02. pdf>. "Transformative Learning: What is Transformative Learning? . " UCO. edu. UCO, n. d. Web. 5 Apr. 2015. <https: //www. uco. edu/academicaffairs/cettl/TLGuide. Files/2012 -03 -tl. pdf>.