Researching Transformational Learning through ESD, Internationalisation and Citizenship
10th June 2009
Park Campus, University of Gloucestershire
The Pedagogic Research and Scholarship Institute (PRSI) & the International Research Institute in Sustainability(IRIS) at the University of Gloucestershire are collaborating to research transformational learning in a range of contexts. There is considerable debate around the contexts to transformational learning, including ESD, internationalisation and citizenship. This conference has been designed to facilitate and capture new inter-disciplinary and inter-professional discussions around the following questions:
- What is transformational learning?
- What does existing research tell us about transformational
learning and where are the knowledge gaps?
- How does investigating transformational learning influence
research design?
- How can we engage with research into transformational learning
through ESD, internationalisation and citizenship as education
practitioners?
Please see the attached flyer for further information about
- who should attend
- format of the day
- draft programme
- how you can contribute
- outputs from the day
Registration and cost
Please complete the conference registration form and send to prsi@glos.ac.uk. The full cost of registration is £70; early bird registration is £50 (by 24th April 2009). Please note that the period of early bird booking has been extended. The last date for registration is 22nd May 2009.
Registered Delegate Resources
The following attachments provide:
- Draft conference programme
- Some additional information about your possible contribution(s) to the conference, the themed issue of the Journal of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (LATHE) as one conference output, and lunch options
- A reply form to signal whether you want to contribute a poster to the conference and indicate your lunch selection. Please email your completed form to prsi@glos.ac.uk by 1st June 2009 at the latest
- A pre-conference activity – Reflection of YOUR learning journey. Please bring your completed form to the conference
We look forward to welcoming you to the conference. If you have any queries about this correspondence, please email prsi@glos.ac.uk
The Conference Organising Committee
Follow-up resources to the conference
The following resources are available as follow-up to the conference:
You are encouraged to continue an input to the discussions on the PRSI blog. This can be accessed at: http://prsiglos.wordpress.com/. Links to the talks and plenary will be posted shortly. An email will go round the conference participants when this link is live.
Those participants who have submitted (or are intending to submit) an abstract for the themed edition of LATHE on ‘Researching Transformational Learning through ESD, Internationalisation and Citizenship’ can access further information about the journal at: http://resources.glos.ac.uk/tli/lets/journals/lathe/index.cfm
Links to useful articles
Dirkx, J. M, (2000) Transformative Learning and the Journey of Individuation. ERIC Digest No. 223 http://www.ericdigests.org/2001-3/journey.htm
Imel, S. (1998) Transformative Learning in Adulthood. ERIC Digest No.200 http://www.ericdigests.org/1999-2/adulthood.htm
This has useful sections on Mezirow and transformative learning, other perspectives, and transformative learning in practice.
Cranton, P. (1994) Understanding and promoting transformative learning: a guide for educators of adults. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Taylor, Edward W. (1998) The theory and practice of transformative learning: a critical review. Information series NO. 374. Columbus: ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, Center on Education and Training for Employment, College of Education, the Ohio State University. (for executive summary see: http://www.calpro-online.org/eric/docs/taylor/taylor_00.pdf; for full text: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED423422&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED423422 Appendix A has a themed bibliography around ‘Practices of Transformative Pedagogy’ and Appendix B has an overview of ‘Empirical Studies of Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory’.
Introduction to threshold concepts
Cousins, G. (2006) An introduction to threshold concepts. Planet No 17, December 2006. http://www.gees.ac.uk/planet/p17/gc.pdf
Meyer, J. H. F. and Land, R. (2003), Threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge: linkages to ways of thinking and practising, in Rust, C. (ed.) Improving Student Learning − ten years on. Oxford: OCSLD.
http://www.tla.ed.ac.uk/etl/docs/ETLreport4.pdf
The University College London (UCL) web resource produced by Mike Flanagan provides a useful summary and references.
Threshold concepts and undergraduate teaching: a short introduction and reference list. http://www.ee.ucl.ac.uk/~mflanaga/thresholds.html