Employing Technology Industry Methods to Facilitate Transformative Learning Experiences in the Classroom: Insights From a Pilot

2020 ◽  
pp. 237337992092510
Author(s):  
Eleanor T. Shonkoff ◽  
Theodore Fitopoulos ◽  
Sara C. Folta
Keyword(s):  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Transformational Learning ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Graduate Course ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Innovative Strategies ◽  
Class Time ◽  
Technology Industry ◽  
Pilot Work ◽  
Skill Building

High-impact, transformative educational practices change the way students see themselves and others, as well as impart knowledge. Practices from the technology industry may offer innovative strategies for fostering transformational learning experiences. We developed and implemented two innovation techniques—Hackathon and Innovation Time Off (ITO)—in a graduate course on social psychology and public health nutrition. The Hackathon occurred in the sixth and seventh weeks of the course; the last 4 weeks provided 10% of class time for ITO projects. All enrolled students participated in the pilot study ( n = 6; M age = 27.5 years; 83% female; 67% White) and completed reflection papers during the final exam period. Student learning was assessed from these reflection papers using a rubric for transformative versus nontransformative changes in five areas: confidence, pride, skills, perspective, and identity. Student responses revealed transformative changes in perspective ( n = 7). Additionally, nontransformative changes were found in confidence ( n = 1), identity ( n = 2), perspective ( n = 4), and skills ( n = 9). This pilot work suggests that the Hackathon and ITO contributed to perceived skill-building in problem-solving and teamwork, and the Hackathon may have led to transformative changes in perspective; ITO may not be appropriate for learners who need structure; high confidence remained unchanged; and these strategies are likely to be feasible and replicable.

Transformational Learning Strategies for the Secondary General Music Classroom

2021 ◽  
pp. 275276462110614
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Bucura ◽  
Rachel Brashier
Keyword(s):  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Transformational Learning ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
General Music ◽  
Prior Learning ◽  
Music Classroom ◽  
Secondary Music ◽  
Secondary Classes ◽  
Skill Building

This article discusses transformative learning in secondary general music (SGM), while considering students’ transitions from elementary to secondary music classes. SGM is uniquely situated for expanded pedagogies and musicianship, yet a gap in music activities persists between elementary and secondary classes and between home and school. The authors suggest that autonomous learning opportunities can foster ownership and meaning making for students toward lifelong musicianship as well as toward transformative learning. Three overlapping aspects of transformative SGM are discussed: skill-building, exploring contextual understandings, and making time and space for creativity and ownership. Emergent curricula that take students’ interests and experiences into account is encouraged. The authors advocate for projects that encourage collaboration beyond the school walls to foster purposeful connections to prior learning and personal music growth.

Enabling the Exploration of Disorienting Dilemma in the Classroom

2021 ◽  
pp. 002205742199186
Author(s):  
Lisa DeAngelis
Keyword(s):  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Transformational Learning ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Learning Goals ◽  
Teacher’S Role ◽  
New Information ◽  
Disorienting Dilemmas ◽  
Disorienting Dilemma

While learning involves the acquisition of skills and the development of repertoires, some educators harbor even more profound learning goals, seeking to enable learning that is transformative. Theorizing about transformative learning posits that it is precipitated by a disorienting dilemma. Disorienting dilemmas may be thought of as times when new information causes a person to call into question their values, beliefs, or assumptions. Transformative learning can occur through rich, experiential learning experiences or life events, and it can also occur in the classroom. While much has been written about transformational learning, the teacher’s role in the process is undertheorized.

Profiles of engagement: An investigation of transformative learning experiences

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin J. Pugh ◽  
Cassendra M. R. Bergstrom ◽  
Bryden Spencer
Keyword(s):  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Learning Experiences

Using Text via Dialectical Journals to Nurture Liminal Spaces in Teacher Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 154134462110581
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Dodman ◽  
Nancy Holincheck ◽  
Rebecca Brusseau
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Transformational Learning ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Teacher Inquiry ◽  
Graduate Course ◽  
Practicing Teachers ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Liminal Spaces ◽  
Reflective Development

This article shares the findings of a study examining the use of dialectical journals as liminal spaces for the development of critical reflection in practicing teachers. In an online graduate course on critical teacher inquiry designed to foster teachers as antiracist multicultural educators, teachers engaged in dialogue with themselves as they responded to self-selected text segments in assigned readings throughout the course. Using Mezirow’s theory of transformation and specifically the typology of critical reflection of assumptions and critical self-reflection of assumptions, we analyzed the online dialectical journals of 23 teachers to better understand how their engagement with key texts both represented and influenced their reflective development and engagement in transformational learning. We conclude the journals to be powerful liminal spaces for teachers to engage in reframing of their assumptions.

Mindfulness and Transformation in a College Classroom

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moira Martin
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Community College ◽  
Community College Students ◽  
Transformational Learning ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Educational Experience ◽  
College Classroom ◽  
College Classrooms

Community college classrooms afford students from a variety of backgrounds the possibility to engage and inform one another with respect to their unique perspectives and life experiences. Unfortunately, in many of these situations, students find themselves self-critical, and their internal comparisons with others may impede the potential of a transformational educational experience. This article discusses the benefit of utilizing mindfulness meditation as a way of bringing students more in touch with their internal processes, which in turn allows them greater availability to others in the classroom and thus creates more transformational learning experiences for these community college students.

scholarly journals Experiential Graduate Education: An Experiment in Transformative Learning

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn Laiken
Keyword(s):  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Adult Students ◽  
Adult Educators ◽  
Transformative Learning Theory ◽  
Graduate Course ◽  
Mature Adult ◽  
Constructive Learning ◽  
Personal Mastery ◽  
Transformative Impact

Five years of teaching a graduate course in organizational learning have convinced the author that the course has a transformative impact on her mature adult students. The article examines the nature of this form of experiential education in the light of transformative learning theory and learning organization concepts. Using the course as a case example, the author offers a number of specific approaches to: developing a constructive learning environment; enhancing team learning; surfacing and discussing assumptions; supporting systems thinking; and personal mastery. Finally, the author examines the role of the instructor as a facilitator of transformative learning. The objectives are to help adult educators reflect on one kind of environment that seems to have a transformative impact and to explore how to continue to successfully design such experiences for and with adult students.

Transformative Learning Opportunities Help Prepare Students for Their Future Careers

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Alexandra Scho¨nning
Keyword(s):  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Transformational Learning ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Engineering Project ◽  
Graduate Degrees ◽  
Skills Learning ◽  
The University ◽  
Engineering Projects ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

A large percentage of the mechanical engineering students at the University of North Florida have been extensively exposed to transformative learning opportunities over the past five years. Through collaborative efforts with local industry and other institutions, the students have had the opportunity to utilize their engineering knowledge in real-world applications. Students engaged in these projects have improved several of their technical skills in, for example, computer-aided engineering, design, mechanical testing, and analysis. Nontechnical objectives of these projects include improving communication skills, learning how an engineering firm functions, and learning how to research relevant data. Technical and non-technical objectives were met by students working on engineering projects sponsored by partnering collaborators. The collaborators defined the engineering project and the students, under the supervision of faculty, carried out the project tasks. This paper discusses a number of different transformative learning opportunities for students; it discusses the educational objectives and skills developed for each project, and it describes how the students are better prepared for their future careers through their involvement with the program. Many of the students have found rewarding engineering careers and a few have continued to pursue graduate degrees. Furthermore, the paper discusses how the efforts of this program are aligned with the mission of the University in that it heavily emphasizes transformational learning opportunities for the whole university community.

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