"Life-Giving Experience" and Learning Transfer for Educators in Underresourced Roman Catholic Schools

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: Catholic Education: From Policy to Practice (Table 4)

Abstract

This research project explored the nature of learning transfer for alumni of the Teacher Formation program (TF). This post-baccalaureate program places teacher education and religious studies graduates in classrooms as teachers in under resourced Roman Catholic schools. During their two years in the program participants earn a Master of Education degree and live in purposeful community with mentors and other program participants. We interviewed 10 alumni, generating the following findings: the overall sentiment was that TF was a life-giving experience and that several significant aspects transferred from the TF experience to their later professional lives. Also, the TF experience included several enhancers of learning transfer and, likewise, several inhibiters of learning transfer. These findings are elaborated in the proposal.

Authors

• Peggy Brun, University of Dayton

• Corinne Brion, University of Dayton

• Davin J. Carr-Chellman, University of Dayton

• JoAnna MP Schofield