A case study examined 10 successful partnerships between county extension educators and university researchers. Successful partnerships included commitment to the bigger picture, communication, mutual respect, trust, and a supportive environment. Conditions that promoted transformative learning in partnerships included strong partner facilitation,…

A framework for further education in Australia includes eight lifelong-learning goals and four key principles: multiplicity, connectedness, critical intelligence, and transformation. The curriculum-design model outlines educational, learning, recognition, and pathway outcomes. (SK)

Explores the postmodern critique of dominant conceptions of the self in adult education: psychological/humanistic and sociological/critical. Identifies valuable aspects of the critique, for example, showing how individuals participate in their own subjugation with adult educators as accomplices. (SK)

Transformative learning is a theory based on the premise that all individuals have perspectives derived from experiences, thoughts, values, and insights. Adult educators create meaning out of their experiences as practitioners and as learners. (JOW)

Examines differences among types of critical reflection, the role of critical reflection of assumption (CRA) in the transformative theory of adult learning, and philosophical foundations of CRA. (SK)

Describes the use of transformative learning theory to evaluate a family-empowerment project focusing on life skills (N=34). Results reveal evidence of transformative learning outcomes such as an empowered sense of self and new connections with others. Participants also spoke of factors built into the program designed to foster transformative…

Contrasts Western traditional objectivism with the interpretist paradigm explaining cognitive processes. Describes the transformation theory of adult learning based on the emancipatory paradigm. (SK)

Adult educators can use the concepts of chaos, emergence, creativity, and transformation from biological and physical sciences and evolution theories to reassess the prominence of transformation as an educational orientation. Developmental potential can be facilitated in learners who are at crisis points, struggling with inner turbulence, or…

Adaptation of a project-based learning model aimed at linking student learning to community problems for South African adult education can potentially result in action-oriented, socially relevant knowledge construction, collective learning, and critical reflection. However, project-based learning might also be used to support the "new…

In-depth interviews with 12 ethical vegans revealed the process of becoming vegetarian. Transformative learning proved to be a journey rather than a one-time decision. Mezirow's transformative theory does not adequately account for the power relations central to this process. Therefore, transformative learning should be viewed more holistically.…

With the premise that schooling should make a difference in students' everyday experience, the authors synthesize research on the influence of school learning on students' out-of-school experience by addressing the contributions and shortcomings of four research areas: (a) transfer, (b) out-of-school learning environments, (c) school-prompted…

This article reflects on Peter Mayo's synthesis of ideas from two key figures in critical educational studies: Gramsci and Freire. The author identifies a number of distinguishing features of Mayo's work and considers some of the implications of his analysis for our understanding of transformative intellectual activity.

When teachers view their mission as one to "save" children, the possibility then exists that they might not "save" them all. In fact, it is not uncommon that a teacher utters the words, "I can't save them all." The mission, however, of the teacher is not to "save." Rather, the mission of a teacher is to…

Emotion-laden images that arise within adult learning provide a symbolic language for helping teachers and learners understand and facilitate transformation at both the individual and group levels.

This article explores how storytelling can help create a space for transformational learning. In particular it looks at the role of storytelling in education for peace in Africa. It also touches on related issues, including the role of historic peace churches, the role of women, and the role of faith convictions, in the process of moving from…