Back in 2002 I had the opportunity to participate in Stephen Brookfield’s class on Transformative Learning. I realized then that any changes would only take place if they were rooted in a profound clash of beliefs from which dilemmas and subsequent new beliefs could be engendered. Our practices as teachers (or doctors, lawyers, engineers for that matter) come all from our inner beliefs.
In practical terms, let’s say an Elementary school teacher in Chile has been teaching English (EFL) to 5th graders by grudgingly going over a textbook and a checklist of methodological to do’s.
Neither him/herself nor the kids will ever REALLY learn!
The teacher who has done his/her best efforts to teach ”right” will never see any positive learnings from such as practice UNLESS there is a deep reflection on WHY he/she is teaching English to these kids. The Why’s might lead to the examination of the What’s and then on to the How’s.
Our practices are deeply rooted in our BELIEFS. If our conceptions and beliefs do not change, I see little benefit in vomiting norms and endless lists of things we should or not do in the classroom. Excuse my language, but the vomiting word is NOT for our teachers but for those who “think” are either paternalistically beside them or simply above them.
Transformative learning as proposed by Jack Mezirow needs to be headed. Please read him. Please do.
Transformational theory in the context of adult learning has been articulated mainly by Jack Mezirow, and connects with the idea of a change, “a dramatic fundamental change in the way we see ourselves and the world in which we live” primarily from a cognitive learning process.
As put by Mezirow, “transformative learning is the process of effecting change in a frame of reference. Adults have acquired a body of experience […] that define their life world.” Once this worldview is defined, subsequent experiences are structured to fit that view. An experience that cannot be accepted within the confines of that established worldview, but which is compelling is, in the terms of transformative learning, a disorienting dilemma.
This dilemma leads to reflection, or a re-evaluation of the previously accepted worldview. Thus the disorienting dilemma provides a new perspective of the world and a change, or a transformation, of the accepted definition of the world.
I invite to you visit Jack Mezirow’s thinking and proposals.
Here’s a link you might want to see
http://www.geocities.com/transformativelearning
The link I share here with you was part of my experience with other classmates during the time we spent with Brookfield. Our conversation is recorded there. So is the way you can lead transformative learning experiences in your schools and communities. There’s also reference to our sources: books and journals where Mezirow’s work has been recorded.
If you need a Spanish version I’ll be more than happy to help. Just contact me through this website.
All the best for you all
M.
PS: this posting is dedicated to the best teachers I ever met, those of TALLERES COMUNALES, a group of teachers who I personally admire for their professionalism, their hard work and their character. These teachers work in municipality run schools all across the country (Chile) and I had the privilage to work with them for 2 years.
TESOLCHILE’s International Conference is finally just around the corner!
Written by Mauricio Miraglia
