Writing Stories Reveal Academic Insights: Transformative Learning Theory Incorporated With Autoethnography

• In Event: The (Non)Invisible Researcher

Abstract

An authoethnographic case study incorporated the use of Richardson’s (1997) “writing stories” with transformative learning theory illustrating how one’s beliefs, values, and perspectives can be impacted by new learning and reciprocally how one’s learning choices can be impacted by past experiences. Old writing pieces were paired with new companion reflective writing stories that contextualized the author’s (a) cultural environment, (b) community of relationships, and (c) psychological and spiritual development in the past and the present. Cranton’s (2006) psychological habits of mind questions were applied to make sense of the data and its associated learning. For teachers, researchers, and participants this methodology offers via accessible means the potential for life lesson learning and self-knowledge.

Author

• Connie Elizabeth Taylor, Queen's University