This study investigated the nature of transformative learning experiences as qualitative shifts in identity by employing a basic interpretative qualitative methodology using data from semi-structured interviews with eight participants in a re-entry job skills program, that is, with participants in a program that was designed to aid them with their…

Purpose and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to explore the concept of transformation by studying the transformative experiences of the faculty and graduates of ORU's Doctor of Education Program (Ed.D.). The theoretical framework for this study was Young's (2013a) transformational learning theory reframed (TLTR). An exploratory…

While transformative learning often leads to positive experiences, it can also be a complex, emotionally turbulent process. The process for some can represent a messy and emotionally chaotic journey, where learners may find themselves in conflict with their emotional comfort zones as they question belief systems, who they are, how they see the…

Purpose: Reflective practice (RP) is a key skill for developing one's professional practice. It has, however, not been unanimously prioritised in public health (PH) competency and education frameworks. Reflection activities are often unstructured in higher education. There is also a dearth of literature on the RPs of undergraduate PH students.…

This paper explores the value of autoethnography in the context of student teaching and learning. The manuscript situates autoethnography within restorative and critical pedagogies and draws from students' impressions to examine how autoethnography aids in developing self-awareness, empathy, and vulnerability as emotional resiliency. Further…

Amidst the tapestry of public education lie the stories of early college high school (ECHS) students, students with valuable insights into the transformative nature of juggling secondary and postsecondary education. Their experiences are somewhat unknown to the education community at large. ECHS programs are designed to bridge the gap between high…

There is a tendency in recent curriculum reforms to put the major emphasis on the status and role of students. The OECD's Education 2030 project, for example, presents the concept of 'student agency' as a key vision for future learning frameworks. The OECD's discourse of student agency appears to serve as a catalyst for spreading the slogan that…

Universities are increasingly working to better prepare students for success in the workforce and increasingly advocating high-impact learning experiences. This case study explores the short-term impacts on students who participated in a short-term service-learning study abroad program in Ireland through a lens of Transformative Learning Theory.…

Given the rising number of refugees in the United States, it is becoming increasingly important for individuals to understand the lived experience of refugees and foster their inclusion. World Relief refugee simulations were designed to raise awareness about the refugees' rehoming process, and these immersion activities may be powerful experiences…

This study builds on education abroad, global citizenship, and short-term travel programs literature by examining students' experiences traveling on short-term programs overseas in the Global Majority. The term Global Majority, in this study, is defined as regions worldwide that have historically seen low student participation rates for academic…

Responding to the call for papers on "The Future of College Student Mental Health," we analyze the current "crisis" in college student mental health, and we discuss how it is co-constructed by our students and we who are the faculty and the administrators. We identify three factors: (1) A shift from offering value-based…

The purpose of the study was to examine education doctoral student perspectives on their experience of enrolling in a fully online EdD program during a global pandemic and achieving career advancement during their enrollment through the lens of transformative learning theory. A qualitative study of 12 participants was conducted to examine in what…

This study explored how university students in North America acquired the ability to express their career-related competencies in the context of a pre-professional career education program. We examined the intersection of happenstance learning theory (HLT) and experiential learning theory (ELT) to facilitate significant experiences that inspired…

This narrative inquiry study explored the transformational learning experiences of students who attended Christian colleges and universities in the United States. The problem addressed in this study is the need for Christian colleges and universities to identify what constitutes and contributes to the transformative experiences conveyed by…

The purpose of this dissertation was to experiment with qualitative research methodologies while exploring the complexities of doctoral education, research practices, philosophies of inquiry, and other topics intersecting with(in) educational scholarship. My vision for this work was fueled by postmodernist critiques of humanist education,…