Learning's Not a Solo Sport: Why 'Doing It Together' is the Secret Sauce
Forget cramming and endless flashcards! The most impactful way to truly learn, grow, and even uplift entire communities is through the power of transformative learning. In today's post-pandemic world, we're swimming in a sea of information, yet feeling more isolated than ever. Our brains, overwhelmed and starved for connection, are putting up barriers to new knowledge. The solution? It's time to break down those walls and embrace learning as a shared, social experience. Transformative learning isn't just about absorbing facts, it's about connecting, questioning, and evolving together. In this post, we'll dive into why this method is a game-changer, and then equip you with the tools to start leveling up your learning - and your life - alongside others!
Did you know that *94.8% of jobs require some form of communication and human interaction? In today's fast-paced world, traditional learning methods are falling short. It's time to embrace a new approach: transformative learning. Studies have shown that active learning leads to increases in examination performance that would raise average grades by half a letter, and students taught by lecture-based learning are 1.5 times more likely to fail than those participating in courses featuring active learning.
Stats Source: TeachFX Research
Join us as we explore how collaborative learning can break down barriers, foster deeper understanding, and empower communities to thrive. Discover how SkillVill can be your platform for connection, growth, and knowledge-sharing.
While we emphasize education and learning for our youth, the truth is that learning in life never stops. There are new things that we learn, new facts, new truths. Rather than fight against this, we need to embrace it. Only by embracing learning can we grow as people and help others with the knowledge that we gain. And there is a better way to learn as an adult that makes a difference in what we know and how we can use the new information that we are presented with.
For example, Transformative Learning Theory tells us that adults learn best when they incorporate their personal experiences in the learning process. With this innovative method, we are able to absorb information in a meaningful manner.
Related: Learning from others is good, with others is better: the role of social interaction in human acquisition of new knowledge
What is Transformative Learning?
Sociologist Jack Mezirow developed transformative Learning Theory in the late 1970s. Essentially, what Mezirow proposed was that the personal experiences that people have influence and shape their learning experience, and help them learn new things. Central to this is that the person needs to critically evaluate what they think they know and accept and critically think about a new way to look at the same information. When a person does this, real learning takes place, and it "transforms" the person who learned the new information. This then becomes part of their personal experiences and influences them going forward.
How Can eLearning Provide a Transformational Experience?
ALT Text: three people pointing at a laptop screen
eLearning is a pivotal technology for adult learners. This allows them to more easily access a variety of different topics from which to learn. Because adults are more easily able to access new information for learning, transformational learning can take place more often, leading to faster transitions to new knowledge.
SkillVill believes that everyone should be able to learn from anywhere, not just a traditional classroom. That's why they built their platform, but they also believe that people have worthwhile experiences that can be shared.
Sharing these different experiences in safe support social networks helps open up new viewpoints on the same information, leading to transformational learning.
What Are The Stages of Transformative Learning
There are ten stages of transformative learning:
Stage one is the disorienting dilemma stage, such as becoming a parent for the first time.
Stage two is known as the self-examination, which includes feelings of anger, shame, guilt, or fear.
Stage three is the critical assessment of assumptions.
Stage four is the recognition of discontentment.
Stage five is the exploration of options for new roles, actions, and relationships.
Stage six is planning the course of action.
Stage Seven is known for acquiring knowledge and skills for implementing the plan.
Stage eight is the provisional trying of new roles.
Stage nine is building competence and self-confidence in new roles.
Stage ten is reintegrating into one's life with a new perspective.
There is no specific timeline for all of these stages to take place in; it could be weeks, or it could be months (or longer).
What is The Transformative Learning Theory
For adult learners, Transformative Learning Theory states that they will come to have a change in their viewpoint, expectations, and assumptions after they have a life-changing event or situation. With these changes, then come changes in frames of references for understanding and interpretation. Put another way, the things that people had been taking for granted or perhaps were unaware of they now make conscious decisions about since they have developed the ability to reflect on that formerly hidden thing. This is where a transformational experience happens, sort of like a lightbulb moment or the proverbial a-ha moment that we see portrayed sometimes in cartoons and other media. Fortunately, there are ways to help foster this theory.
Supportive relationships
Building supportive relationships help with transformational experiences. In e-Learning situations, the people in the class have a common goal, which helps build support and trust. The class should be non-hierarchical and encourages diverse perspectives and opinions, especially those that differ from the norm or expected. By doing this, the instructor fosters supportive relationships, which encourages people to open their minds to new information and perspectives.
Challenging assumptions
Transformative learning happens only when there is self-reflection. This self-reflection can then challenge one's assumptions about how they understand and view the world. How can peer-to-peer learning help with this? By asking open-ended questions and letting the participants think about the question and developing an answer. When new knowledge is added to a person's current life experiences, they can perform self-reflection and seek more information to influence their assumptions and thinking.
Meaningful experiences
Meaningful experiences are what really help new information to be incorporated by a person. But how do you have a meaningful experience? The experience must be meaningful to the learner in question. If you want to have people care about and work toward helping the poor, for example, it would be good to provide them an experience in a homeless shelter or a food bank to really see and experience those that you want them to ultimately help.
Related: When Learning Comes Naturally
Self-awareness
As part of the transformative experience, being self-aware is an important aspect that learners should have. Sometimes, there is a level of discomfort associated with a transformative experience, and self-awareness is part of this. The good news is that this helps to make a big impact on the learner, and they will more quickly and deeply incorporate the new information into their personal experiences.
Ready to unleash the power of transformative learning in your community? SkillVill is your launchpad for collaborative growth and knowledge-sharing. Create engaging courses, host interactive workshops, and connect with like-minded learners who are eager to level up together.
Don't just learn, transform. Start your journey on SkillVill today!
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