The transformative theory of learning summary encapsulate all details required to be known when it comes to the concept of the consumption of facts, information, knowledge, ideas, thoughts and perspectives. When we speak of transformative theory of learning emphasis dwell on the expansion of consciousness through which an individual can question themselves about their own feelings, beliefs, assumptions, and perspective on their purpose.
Transformation is a process in itself. Hence, undergoing this process can help you completely rewire and transform your beliefs, assumptions, and experiences into brand new expressive perspectives, aspects and cognitive dimensions.
As a theory of learning which was initiated and expanded by Jack Mezirow – an American sociologist, it is an act that individuals conduct in order to be more self-motivated, self-governing, rational, collaborative, and empathetic. Speaking of the many advantageous effects that this unique theory can place on the human society as a whole, there is no doubting the truth that it has diverse benefits which the theory offers.
Jack Mezirow: Propounder of the Theory
Jack Mezirow is known as the founder of transformative learning. Jack Mezirow began this theory of transformational learning when he did studies on adult women who went back to school. His initial research led him to theorize that adults don’t apply their old understanding to new situations, instead they find they need to look at new perspectives in order to get a new understanding of things as they change.
Mezirow theorized that students had important teaching and learning opportunities connected to their past experiences. Mezirow found that critical reflection and critical review could lead to a transformation of their understanding. Adult education and adult learning is key in this theory, as children often don’t have the same kind of transformation with their learning experiences.
He also found that adult learning involves taking the very things we believed and thought as a child, and letting critical reflection and teaching impact the transformation to what we should believe and understand now. Mezirow’s theory has developed into a larger idea that our world view is changed the more we learn, and that helps us grasp new concepts and ideas.
Importance of the Transformative Theory of Learning
Acquiring rational and emotional skills are the main purpose in transformative THEORY OF LEARNING in order to make a critical reflection by developing new perspectives and meaning structure:
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Change
A great leader in a company is someone that is always admired by his or her colleagues for a range of different characteristics. Those characteristics can range from personality and behavior, to work ethic and determination. Such role models can have a significant impact on employees’ habitual perspectives, and thus, transformative learning theory is often needed for the training of this role model.
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Adaptation Power
There are some transition periods in life that require transformative learning, likewise, there are various transition points in work and social life and they may not be put to an end with traditional thoughts and actions. People may overcome problems such as adapting to job and workplace, promotion stages, change of job, and retirement only with transformative learning.
Thus, transformative learning approaches are often required for society development models and applications, which will be performed together with the contributions of native society, entrepreneurs, and cooperators.
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Diversities as Solution
There are some transition points in the life process and the following periods that may not be accomplished with previous perspectives. Adjusting these periods is possible only with critical reflection and perspective transformation method, thus, it is possible with a reconstruction of life.
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Social Education Projects
Transformative learning may be beneficial for applications where contemporary individuals are more effective, critical, and creative such as post-migration adaptation to the city, adoption of a democratic way of life, being active in participation in civil society.
Critical reflection is the basic competency for accomplishment in applications. These education applications will be effective in solving problems that are rooted and have gotten into a vicious circle. A widely known matter by professional educators is that necessary and unavoidable transformation isn’t able to occur as long as learning, understanding, and application aren’t changed.
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Problem-solving Abilities and Reflections
Critical reflection and experiences are highly important when it comes to providing basic scientific competencies. In addition, competencies acquired with transformative learning are powerful enough to accelerate scientific investigations in terms of providing competencies that are needed at the workplace.
Transformative Theory of Learning Summary
The transformative theory of learning is defined as an orientation which holds that the way learners interpret and reinterpret their sense experience is central to making meaning and hence learning. Put simply, transformative learning is the idea that learners who are getting new information are also evaluating their past ideas and understanding, and are shifting their very worldview as they obtain new information and through critical reflection.
It goes beyond simply acquiring knowledge, and dives into the way that learners find meaning in their lives and understanding. This kind of learning experience involves a fundamental change in our perceptions—learners start to question all the things they knew or thought before and examine things from new perspectives in order to make room for new insights and information.
Many learners and experts agree that this kind of learning leads to true freedom of thought and understanding.
Types of Transformative Theory of Learning
Mezirow says that transformative learning has two basic focuses:
- Instrumental Learning
Instrumental learning focuses on task-oriented problem solving, and evaluation of cause and effect relationships.
- Communicative Learning
Communicative learning focuses on how people communicate their feelings, needs, and desires.
Both of these elements are important in transformative learning—students need to be able to focus on different types of their understanding and view new perspectives that are both logical and emotional in order to challenge their previous understanding.
