In this article, the authors (a faculty member and two former students) describe the trajectory that Portland State University has taken over its history to institutionalize transformative learning opportunities within its comprehensive general education program, University Studies. Following a description of the institutional changes that…

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) has used various ways to craft curriculum that directly meets employers' and students' needs in key economic drivers in the State of Colorado. Moving beyond the standard industry advisory councils used in many, especially professional programs, the institution has consulted with industry leaders…

Applied and experiential learning strategies have been incorporated into allied health and nursing curricula for years, often in the form of clinical rotations and internships/externships. There appears to be, however, a lack of research regarding student satisfaction with these learning experiences, particularly in two-year, associate degree…

What is one value that grounds you in your civic engagement work? How are you walking the talk of that value in your assessment work? Or, how might you? And, what both helps and gets in the way of your doing that? These questions were posed to service-learning and community engagement (SLCE) faculty and staff gathered for an assessment institute…

This article explores a pluralist understanding of learning for sustainability in educational theory and relates it to outdoor education practice. In brief, this kind of learning can be described as a deep engagement with an individual's multiple identities and the personal location in diverse geo-physical and socio-cultural surroundings. I…

This chapter addresses the transformative use of the creative writing workshop as pedagogical method in undergraduate, graduate, and community-based creative nonfiction classes.

This chapter discusses key findings from two recent studies that examine transformative learning experiences in a restorative practices-based graduate program at the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP). Restorative practices is a new interdisciplinary social science that studies the development and maintenance of relationships…

A sense of strangerhood, which is different from social isolation or cultural alienation, is common among many of the international students whom I encounter. In a world increasingly preoccupied with personal interaction and social exchange, many of these students perceive strangerhood as problematic and inherently negative. This brief reflection…

Existing ways of understanding the transformative potential of students' undergraduate experiences either focus solely on the formal educational elements of these experiences or present an overly static picture of students' intentions in engaging in higher education. In this article we argue that the notion of "personal project" offers a…

Reflective practice and inquiry are aspects of teacher professional practice that characterise teachers as learners. Reflective practice in some form is considered in contemporary education as an essential activity for teachers and teacher educators. "Inquiry as professional development" and "inquiry as research", on the other…

The educational work of Paolo Freire on dialogue took place in a specific context: poverty and oppression in Brazil and Latin America in the 1960s. Similarly, Buber and Levinas were engaged in, or reflected on, contemporary philosophical debates. During the last half century, the irruption of the "Third World" into geopolitics has been,…

In order to better understand the importance of adult learning theory to museum educators' work, and that of their profession at large, museum professionals must address the need for more adult learning research and practice in museums--particularly work informed by existing theory and work seeking to generate new theory. Adult learning theory…

My research is a work in progress. This paper discusses the potential project that will utilize narrative inquiry to learn about the lived experiences of adults over the age of 45 who have made the decision to re-enter a high school program to complete grade 12. I review the literature surrounding adult learning and early exits from high school.…

As U.S. population becomes increasingly diverse, preparing 21st century educators to teach children of diverse racial, ethnic, social class, and language backgrounds is a critical issue in teacher education. This study focused on career and technical education instructors with a business and industry teaching license and minimal or no previous…

The concept of "metanoia" illuminates the spaces that exist around and beyond opportune moments. As such, "metanoia" offers ways to reframe the affective elements of teaching and learning, writing and revising. This essay examines emotion, agency, and transformation in the concept of "metanoia" as a way to expand…