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EDST 630: Transformative Learning for Social Change Report a Broken Link

Since classical times, education has been identified as fulfilling the contradictory roles of both reproducing as well as transforming the existing social order. In this course, we will specifically examine the theory and practice of transformative education and learning within the field of adult education, particularly attentive to those approaches that are meant to catalyze social and individual transformation.

Course Textbook

Nicolaides, A., Eschenbacher, S., Buergelt, P. T., Gilpin-Jackson, Y., Welch, M., & Misawa, M. (eds). (2022). The Palgrave handbook of learning for transformation. Palgrave Macmillan.  

Unit 1: Transformative Learning: State of the Field

Hoggan, C., & Finnegan, F. (2023). Transformative learning theory: Where we are after 45 years. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2023(177), 5–11. 
Kroth, M., & Cranton, P. (2014). Understanding self and society through storytelling. In Stories of Transformative Learning (pp. 13–24). Sense Publishers. 

Unit 2: Modern Theories of Social Change

Sztompka, P. (1994). Vicissitudes of the idea of progress. In The sociology of social change (pp. 24–40). Blackwell.
Patterson, T. C. (2018). Chapter 2: Modern industrial capitalist society 1820–1914. In Social change theories in motion (pp. 38–70). Routledge. 

Unit 3: Mezirow’s Theory of Perspective Transformation

Mezirow, J. (2009). Transformative learning theory. In J. Mezirow & E. W. Taylor (Eds.), Transformative learning in practice (pp. 18–31). Jossey-Bass. 
Taylor, E. W. (2009). Fostering transformative learning. In J. Mezirow & E. W. Taylor (Eds.), Transformative learning in practice (pp. 3-17). Jossey-Bass. 
Kitchenham, A. (2008). The evolution of John Mezirow’s transformative learning theory. Journal of Transformative Education, 6(2), 104–123.
Nancee Bloom. (2015, July 6). Conversation at home with Jack Mezirow [Video]. YouTube. 

Unit 4: Transformative Learning and Critical Pedagogy

Brookfield, S. (2017). Critical adult education theory: Traditions and influence. In M. Milana, S. Webb, J. Holford, R. Waller, & P. Jarvis (Eds.), The Palgrave international handbook on adult and lifelong education and learning (pp. 53–74). Palgrave Macmillan. 
Brookfield, S. (2005). Challenging ideology. In The power of critical theory: Liberating adult learning and teaching (pp. 66–92). Jossey-Bass.
Carpenter, S., & Mojab, S. (2011). Introduction: A specter haunts adult education: Crafting a Marxist-feminist framework for adult education and learning. In S. Carpenter & S. Mojab (Eds.), Educating from Marx: Race, gender, and learning (pp. 3–18). Palgrave MacMillan.
CCCB. (2019, July 2). Henry Giroux: “All education is a struggle over what kind of future you want for young people” [Video]. YouTube.

Unit 5: Freirean Perspectives

Freire, P. (1993). Chapter 2. In Pedagogy of the oppressed (M. Bergman Ramos, Trans.; 20th anniversary ed.) (pp. 71–86). Continuum International Publication Group. (Original work published 1970). 
Shor, I., & Freire, P. (1987). What is the “dialogical method” of teaching? Journal of Education, 169(3), 11–31. 
LiteracyDotOrg. (2009, December 30). Paulo Freire—an incredible conversation [Video]. YouTube. 
PHILO-notes. (2022, June 26). Paulo Freire’s Philosophy of Education: Key Concepts [Video]. YouTube. 

Unit 6: Jungian Perspectives

Boyd, R. D., & Myers, J. G. (1988). Transformative education. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 7(4), 261–284. 
Clark, M. C., & Dirkx, J. M. (2000). Moving beyond a unitary self: A reflective dialogue. In A. L. Wilson & E. R. Hayes (Eds.), Handbook of adult and continuing education (pp. 101–116). Jossey-Bass.
Dirkx, J. (2012). Nurturing soul work: A Jungian approach to transformative learning. In E. Taylor and P. Cranton (Eds.), The handbook of transformative learning: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 116–130). Jossey-Bass.
The Society of Analytical Psychology (SAP). (n.d.). Jung’s model of the psyche. SAP. 

Unit 7: Race, Gender, and Power in Transformative Education

hooks, b. (1994). Introduction: Teaching to transgress. In Teaching to transgress: Education as the practice of freedom (pp. 1–12). Routledge.
hooks, b. (1994). Chapter 1: Engaged pedagogy. In Teaching to transgress: Education as the practice of freedom (pp. 13–22). Routledge.
Battiste, M. (2013). Confronting and eliminating racism. In Decolonizing education: Nourishing the learning spirit (pp. 125–139). Purich Publishing.
ChallengingMedia. (2006, October 3). bell hooks: Cultural criticism and transformation [Video]. YouTube. 

Unit 8: Critique of First Wave Theorizing

Finnegan, F. (2023). A many-splendored thing? Transformative learning for social justice. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2023(177), 119–133.
MW2RickRoll. (2010, October 18). RSA animate—changing education paradigms [Video]. YouTube.

Unit 9: Social Change and Social Movements

pbriggsiam. (2013, June 12). Myles Horton—radical hillbilly—a wisdom teacher for activism and civic engagement [Video]. YouTube. 
Lange, E. (2023). Neoliberal globalization as backlash. In Transformative sustainability education: Reimagining our future (pp. 76–115). Routledge. 

Unit 10: Integrative Critique of Modernity

Battiste, M. (2017). Displacing cognitive imperialism. In Decolonizing education: Nourishing the learning spirit (pp. 158–166). Purich Publishing. 
Lange, E. (2018). Transforming transformative education through ontologies of relationality. Journal of Transformative Education, 16(4), 280–301.

Unit 11: Indigenous and Spiritual Ways of Knowing

Betasamosake Simpson, L. (2014). Land as pedagogy: Nishnaabeg intelligence and rebellious transformation. Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education & Society, 3(3), 1–25.
Rasmussen, D. (2001). Qallunology: A pedagogy for the oppressor. Canadian Journal of Native Education, 25(2), 105–116. 
Tisdell, E. (2023). The braid of transformative learning, spirituality, and creativity: The impetus to create as well as critique. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2023(177), 37–50. 

Unit 12: Ecological Perspectives

EncourageTV. (2022, September 20). Journey of the universe (2013) documentary, Brian Swimme [Video]. YouTube. 
Lange, E. (2017). RiverSpeaking: The spiraling of transformative and restorative learning toward kinship ethics. In P. B. Corcoran, J. P. Weakland, & A. E. J. Wals (Eds.), Envisioning futures for environmental and sustainability education (pp. 33–43). Wageningen Academic Publishers. 

Unit 13: Emerging Future of Transformation and Transformative Learning

No online readings