This is an essay about the transformative power of interpretive epistemologies for those who come into the social sciences seeking meaning in the messiness of human experience. It is about how an epistemological exercise gave the author symbolic tools to become sentient of his father's subjective oppressive force in his life--with the man living…

This article relates how an English teacher in an urban high school described his efforts to listen and to perceive a seemingly disaffected student in his efforts to support her learning. He observed her responding to his efforts in positive and unexpected ways that involved her increased involvement in learning in his class. This teacher…

Conversations on the connection of art, beauty, and the aesthetic experience in science are gaining a voice in the science education community. This article provides a conceptual overview of the role of beauty and aesthetics in science and science education. It focuses on a discussion of four themes exploring beauty in scientific ideas and…

The "CASE" (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) Professor of the Year program recognizes outstanding professors for their dedication to teaching, commitment to students, and innovative instructional methods. It is the only national program to recognize college and university professors for their teaching skills. Three marketing…

This instrumental case study examines how adolescent high-intermediate Japanese language learners enrolled in a one-month credited abroad program used video as a mediational tool for (1) learning foreign language, content, and technology skills, (2) cultivating critical multiliteracies and transformative learning regarding geopolitics and the…

The principles of relationships, relevance, and rigor (the three R's) provide a framework for structuring conversations and initiatives in instructional practice (Wagner, 2002). Typically, this framework is applied to student learning. In this article, the authors apply the three R's to adult learning and highlight three small schools in order to…

In the present era of accountability, there is a real and justifiable temptation to use collaboration to focus strictly upon instrumental goals that have an immediate impact on classroom practices. However, without some time and reflection devoted to why teachers do what they do, a sustainable culture of collaboration is unlikely to emerge. Based…

This article reports the findings of a university's pilot project documenting the impact of an intervention entitled Course (Re)design for Internationalization Workshop (CRIW) on faculty perspectives and their subsequent willingness to engage in internationalization of the curriculum. Two main theories, transformative learning (Mezirow, 1991) and…

An educator's self-directed critical reflection on experiences led to the following discoveries about faculty development: articulation of assumptions about educational processes, explication of knowledge claims about development, and identification and examination of faculty development conventions. (SK)

Review of 39 studies on perspective transformation reveals the need to recognize the significant influence of context, a lesser role for critical reflection, and a greater role for other ways of learning. A more encompassing view of transformative learning includes affective learning, nonconscious learning, relationships, and collective…

An integrative approach views professional development for adult educators as learner centered and transformative; it should address motivation and technology. A new vision of professional development reconceptualizes the process to include understanding of contexts, active learning, reflection, and dialogue. (SK)

The author discusses the historical development of Mezirow's theory of perspective transformation (seen as adult learning that leads to social action). Problems with this concept are discussed and the author concludes that perspective transformation, while an important concept, is not a complete theory of adult learning and education. (CH)

Mezirow restates the major ideas of his transformation theory and addresses criticisms in terms of adult development, ideology, and Freire's concept of conscientization. Tennant and Newman's reactions are followed by Mezirow's response. (SK)

Women acquire knowledge and identity in different ways. The history of women's educational inequities, current state of women's literacy, and methods of literacy programs justify gender-specific programing based on adult learning theories that are focused on construction of experience and perspective transformation. (SK)

Summarizes four theoretical perspectives on transformative learning as consciousness raising, critical reflection, development, and individuation. (SK)