A narrative inquiry into the lives of nine environmental activists in nonprofit organizations depicted the role of learning in sustaining their commitment to and passion for the work. Resulting themes suggest they recognize their work as a calling or vocation. Transformative learning plays an integral role in sustaining commitment and passion.…

Transformative learning shapes the learner in profound and far-reaching ways. Conceptualizations by Mezirow, Freire, and Daloz are based on viewing learning as change in consciousness, of humans as free and responsible, of knowledge and personal and social construct, and belief in liberal democratic society. (SK)

Compares the postmodernists' and transformationists' versions of interpretivism, in relation to epistemology, politics, and the ontology of the self. Sides with the transformationists and concludes that the differences between the two are overdrawn. (MMU)

Advance directives that enable individuals to control their health care are underused due to lack of patient knowledge. Nurses can teach patients about them using adult learning principles, transformation theory, and skills for learning how to learn. (SK)

Argues that a psychological perspective on transformative learning is narrow and distorting. Articulates a sociological perspective, discusses social constructions of reality, defines civil society within Gramsci's formulation, and proposes ways to analyze the transformative process within the new social movements. (Author/SK)

A study of workers in a Canadian Auto Workers local revealed an array of community-building projects and educational programs, many linking informal and formal learning. The workers are building a grassroots, working-class social movement. (SK)

Defines social change movements and the role played by individual and collective transformation. Addresses the debate over Mezirow's transformation theory and shows how transformative learning was used in the women's movement. (SK)

Transformative learning can be conceptualized in emancipatory, cognitive-rational, developmental, and spiritual approaches. Current research is examining transformative learning in groups and organizations, ways to foster it in learners, and ethical considerations for adult educators. (Contains 41 references.) (SK)

Change involves thoughts, emotions, values, and actions but thought gets the most attention. Learning to change necessitates an integration of rational and nonrational ways of knowing. Nonrational ways and human care are important dimensions of the learning process. (SK)

This study explores the potential of critical transformative learning for revitalizing citizen action, particularly action toward a sustainable society. Through an action research process with 14 university extension participants, it was found that a dialectic of transformative and restorative learning is vital for fostering active citizenship.…

It is believed that picture books can help us shape our political, cultural, and moral identities. Teaching and learning for democracy should be a transformative experience, and teaching with picture books can help make that happen.

"Who is responsible for developing, ensuring, and assessing learning outcomes--student affairs, academic affairs, or both?" This question yielded a spirited debate between faculty members and student affairs professionals in the author's course Disability in Higher Education and Society. The author was prompted to learn more about this…

Although video cases are increasingly being used in teacher education as a means of situating learning and developing habits of reflection, there has been little evidence of the outcomes of such use. This study investigates the effects of using a coherent video-case curriculum in a university mathematics methods course by addressing two issues:…

A gap exists between research and practice within the field of intellectual disability. In particular, researchers suggest that personal choice enhances quality of life. Following Bourdieu's suggestion to focus on improving the practice of theory rather than the theory of practice, this paper is a reflexive ethnography detailing my struggles to…

This article debates whether the concept of satisfaction as a measurement of quality in higher education supports the goal of enhancing transformative learning. As higher education is about transforming people, not just their knowledge, it is argued that learning challenges the identities of students, and even questions their personal integrity.…