Proposed by the American sociologist Jack Mezirow, transformative learning theory is heavily influenced by constructivist and humanist principles of learning. It seeks to explain powerful learning experiences that elicit personal change and often sense of identity among those who (intentionally or unintentionaly) experience learning experiences of this nature. As such, it can help us to see the world in new ways, to challenge our assumptions, and to make changes in our lives and is thus advocated as having the potential to be a driver of both individual and social change.
- Transformative learning is a process of making meaning of one's experience.
- It involves:
- an enhanced level of awareness of the context of one's beliefs and feelings
- a critique of their assumptions and particularly premises
- an assessment of alternative perspectives
- a decision to negate an old perspective in favor of a new one or to make a synthesis of old and new
- an ability to take action based upon the new perspective
- and a desire to fit the new perspective into the broader context of one's life.
- The transformational learning process is a complex and challenging process, but it can lead to profound changes in a person's worldview.
- The process is often triggered by a disorienting dilemma, which is a significant personal life event that precipitates a crisis in our lives.
- The process also involves critical reflection, which can involve content reflection, process reflection, or premise reflection.
- Premise reflection is the only type of reflection that leads to a perspective transformation.
- Transformative learning can lead to social action, but it is not the goal of transformative learning.
Defining the transformative learning experience
The transformational learning process is a ten-stage process that can lead to fundamental changes in a person's worldview. The process begins with a disorienting dilemma, which is an event or experience that challenges a person's existing beliefs and assumptions. The person then engages in self-examination, critically assesses their present assumptions, recognizes shared experiences, explores options for new roles, relationships, and actions, plans a course of action, acquires knowledge, tries out a new role, relationship, or behavior, builds competence and confidence in the new role, relationship, or behavior, and finally reintegrates with their new understanding.
Mezirow proposes ten stages that form the transformative learning process:
- Experiencing a disorienting dilemma: This is the event or experience that challenges a person's existing beliefs and assumptions.
- Conducting a self-examination: The person reflects on their existing beliefs and preconceptions and determines how they relate to the present dilemma.
- Critically assessing present assumptions: The person begins to review their existing beliefs and preconceptions with a critical eye.
- Recognizing shared experiences: The person realizes that they are not the only one who has experienced this type of dilemma.
- Exploring options for new roles, relationships, and actions: The person begins to wonder what roles, relationships, and actions are amenable to their newly developing understanding.
- Planning a course of action: The person develops a plan to complete their transformation.
- Acquiring knowledge: The person acquires new information and skills to facilitate their transformation.
- Trying out a new role, relationship, or behavior: The person begins to practice new roles, relationships, and behaviors.
- Building competence and confidence in the new role, relationship, or behavior: The person becomes more proficient and confident in their new roles, relationships, and behaviors.
- Reintegration: The person reintegrates into their life with their new understanding.
Examples of transformative learning:
- A woman who experiences sexism in the workplace may begin to question her assumptions about equality in the workplace.
- A man who is diagnosed with a terminal illness may begin to re-evaluate his priorities in life.
- A student who travels to a foreign country may come to see the world in a new way.
