Transformative College Curriculum A meaningful degree of understanding Daniel J. Glisczinski, University of Minnesota Duluth, U.S.A dglisczi@d.umn.edu
Knowledge Factory The University As The university has shaped itself into an industrial ideal—the knowledge factory. Overloaded,top-heavy with expertness, information. has become a know-how institution ought to be a know-why institution. goal should be deliverance from crushing weight of unevaluated facts, from bare-bones cognition or ignorant knowledge: knowing in fragments, knowing without direction, knowing without commitment (Rowe, 1990)
Education: A “complementary convergence” Between information and understanding ecology between informational, cultural, and values-rich understanding likely to empower those who understand it contains potential to isolate those who choose not to learn it (Friedman, 2005).
Types of Learning Instrumental Communicative Emancipatory Habermas (1984) mastering tasks, solving problems, and learning how to manipulate environments and people toward specific ends critical assessment of assumptions supporting the justification of existing norms in order to think and act in a self-authoring manner. critically understanding context, history, social structures, and power structures which shape epistemological perspectives. Emancipatory Communicative Instrumental
Transformative Learning Quadrants Mezirow (1970) and Herbers (1998) IV. Action I. Disorienting Dilemma II. Critical Reflection III. Rational Dialogue
Research Questions To what extent are higher education students experiencing transformative learning? 2. How do transformative learning experiences affect higher education students’ present behavior?
Transformative Learning Higher Education Findings Preparing learners for present realities and future unknowns. (Maslow, 1971) Quadrant I. Quadrant IV. Disorienting Experiences (Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 73% of population reported experiencing disorienting experiences Committed Action (Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 35% of population reported trying to figure out ways to adopt transformed ways of acting Instrumental Learning (Habermas, 1984) Emancipatory Learning (Habermas, 1984) Communicative Learning (Habermas, 1984) Quadrant III. Quadrant II. Critical Reflection (Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 43% of population reported experiencing critical reflection that their assumptions don’t fit current reality Rational Dialogue (Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 47% of population reported experiencing rational dialogue about constructing more accurate assumptions
Student Voices Reflecting Transformative Cycle Quad I: Do I think this? Do I think that? What do I do now? Man, my marbles were rolling around. Quad II: The question “Why” became central I realized there were other options than . . . Quad III: I’d listen, read, discuss, listen some more, read more... Now I go to be taught by those things which confused me Quad IV: I’ve opened up my thinking and approach to . . . And I try to do the same with my students and peers 4/19/2017 D. Glisczinski | dglisczi@d.umn.edu
Statements from Instrumentalists I don’t think about other people’s assumptions. What matters is what I want to achieve. I used to think about what other people, but have learned that that’s not how the world works 4/19/2017 D. Glisczinski | dglisczi@d.umn.edu
Assessment of Learning Wiggins & McTighe (1998) and Bloom (1976) Self Knowledge (Wiggins & McTighe ,1998) Evaluation (Bloom, 1976) Disorienting Experiences Action Interpretation (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Comprehension, Analysis (Bloom, 1976) Explanation (Wiggins & McTighe,1998) Knowledge, Comprehension (Bloom, 1976) Empathy: (Wiggins & McTighe,1998) Critical Reflection Rational Dialogue Application (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Synthesis (Bloom, 1976) Perspective (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998)
Transformative Learning Theory of Action and Assessment Self Knowledge (Wiggins & McTighe ,1998) Evaluation (Bloom, 1976) Explanation (Wiggins & McTighe,1998) Knowledge, Comprehension (Bloom, 1976) Prepare learners for present realities and future unknowns. (Maslow, 1971) Quadrant I. Quadrant IV. Action, Experimentation (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) Concrete, Disorienting Experiences (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) Assessment Methods Assessment Methods Quadrant II. Critical Reflection, Observation assumptions don’t fit current reality (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) Quadrant III. Rational Dialogue, Abstract Conceptualization (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) Empathy: (Wiggins & McTighe,1998) Interpretation (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Comprehension, Analysis (Bloom, 1976) Perspective (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Application (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Synthesis (Bloom, 1976)
Transformative Learning Theory of Action and Assessment Self Knowledge (Wiggins & McTighe ,1998) Evaluation (Bloom, 1976) Explanation (Wiggins & McTighe,1998) Knowledge, Comprehension (Bloom, 1976) Prepare learners for present realities a nd future unknowns. (Maslow, 1971) and Quadrant I. Quadrant IV. Action, Experimentation (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 35% of population reported trying to figure out ways to adopt transformed ways of acting Concrete, Disorienting Experiences (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 73% of population reported experiencing Disorienting Experiences Begin: Instrumental Learning (Habermas, 1984) Assessment Methods Emancipatory Learning (Habermas, 1984) Assessment Methods and and Communicative Learning (Habermas, 1984) Quadrant II. Critical Reflection, Observation assumptions don’t fit current reality (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 43% of population reported experiencing critical reflection that their assumptions don’t fit current reality Quadrant III. Rational Dialogue, Abstract Conceptualization (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 47% of population reported experiencing rational dialogue and abstract conceptualization about more accurate assumptions and Empathy: (Wiggins & McTighe,1998) Interpretation (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Comprehension, Analysis (Bloom, 1976) Perspective (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Application (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Synthesis (Bloom, 1976)
Transformative Learning Theory of Action and Assessment Self Knowledge (Wiggins & McTighe ,1998) Evaluation (Bloom, 1976) Explanation (Wiggins & McTighe,1998) Knowledge, Comprehension (Bloom, 1976) Prepare learners for present realities and future unknowns. (Maslow, 1971) Quadrant I. Quadrant IV. Action, Experimentation (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) Concrete, Disorienting Experiences (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) Assessment Methods Assessment Methods Quadrant II. Critical Reflection, Observation assumptions don’t fit current reality (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) Quadrant III. Rational Dialogue, Abstract Conceptualization (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) Empathy: (Wiggins & McTighe,1998) Interpretation (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Comprehension, Analysis (Bloom, 1976) Perspective (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Application (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Synthesis (Bloom, 1976)
Experiential Learning Cycle Kolb (1984) Active Experimentation Concrete Experiences Reflective Observation Abstract Conceptualization
Transformative Learning Theory of Action and Assessment Self Knowledge (Wiggins & McTighe ,1998) Evaluation (Bloom, 1976) Explanation (Wiggins & McTighe,1998) Knowledge, Comprehension (Bloom, 1976) Prepare learners for present realities and future unknowns. (Maslow, 1971) and Quadrant I. Quadrant IV. Action, Experimentation (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 35% of population reported trying to figure out ways to adopt transformed ways of acting Concrete, Disorienting Experiences (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 73% of population reported experiencing Disorienting Experiences Begin: Instrumental Learning (Habermas, 1984) Assessment Methods Emancipatory Learning (Habermas, 1984) Assessment Methods and and Communicative Learning (Habermas, 1984) Quadrant II. Critical Reflection, Observation assumptions don’t fit current reality (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 43% of population reported experiencing critical reflection that their assumptions don’t fit current reality Quadrant III. Rational Dialogue, Abstract Conceptualization (Kolb,1984; Mezirow, 1970; Herbers, 1998) 47% of population reported experiencing rational dialogue and abstract conceptualization about more accurate assumptions and Empathy: (Wiggins & McTighe,1998) Interpretation (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Comprehension, Analysis (Bloom, 1976) Perspective (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Application (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998) Synthesis (Bloom, 1976)