Community as Transformative Learning Sites: From Experiential Learning to Transformative Learning

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 10:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Transformation Across Systems Impacting Teacher Education (Table 6)

Abstract

Situated within a transformative learning approach, this action research analyzed two educators’ critical practices and reflections on their community-based teaching and learning experiences with in-and-pre-service educators. Drawing from Kolb and Kolb’s experiential learning theory and Mezirow’s transformative learning theory, this teacher action research aims to conceptualize teacher educators' and teacher candidates’ experiential and transformative learning experiences, to empower all students, especially historically marginalized students to rethink education, curriculum design, policymaking, artwork, the relationship with nature, intersectionality, and beyond. Findings provided applicable implications for teacher educators and teacher preparation program chairs from pre-course design, and on-site instruction, to after-course debriefing to reflect on how to incorporate the proposed model into their own institutions.

Authors

• Wenjin Guo, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology

• Siyuan Gong, Chang'an University