The Impact of a Transformative Learning Experience (TLE) using Professional Development Diagnostics on Students in a

Transcription

1 The Impact of a Transformative Learning Experience (TLE) using Professional Development Diagnostics on Students in a MBA Leadership Course. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Symposium, December 2009 Dr. Teal McAteer DeGroote School of Business McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario

2 Transformative Learning Theory First articulated by J. Mezirow (1978, 1981) : TLE occurs when individuals change their frames of reference by critically i reflecting on their assumptions and beliefs and consciously making and implementing plans that bring out new ways of defining their worlds. At the core of TLT is the process of Perspective Transformation. Clarke (1991) suggests that true learning occurs when there is change in three dimensions: Psychological (changes in understanding self) Convictional (changes in belief systems) Behavioural (changes in lifestyle) Awareness, Reframe/Revise, Action (Mezirow, 1990,1995) Changing frames of reference, habits of mind, & established patterns of behaviour (Merriam & Caffarella, 1999) Emphasis on both the rational critical reflection process and the extrarational intuitive/emotional processes in TLT (Boyd & Meyers, 1988; Cranton, 1997; O Sullivan, 2003; King, 2005) S + T = R

3 Mezirow s (2000) 10 Stage TLE Process 1. A Disorienting Dilemma 2. Self examination of feelings of fear, anger, guilt or shame 3. A critical assessment of assumptions 4. Recognition that one s discontent and the process of transformation are shared 5. Exploration of options for new roles, relationships, and actions 6. Planning a course of action 7. Acquiring knowledge and skills for implementing one s plans 8. Provisional trying of new roles 9. Building competence and self confidence in new roles and relationships 10. A reintegration into one s life of conditions dictated by one s new perspective

4 All learning is change but not all change is transformation (Mezirow, 1990)

5 Applications of TLE General adult education (1978 present) Professional development (King, 2000) & Human resource development (Brooks, 2004) in organizational contexts World views on globalization and environmentalism (O Sullivan, 2003) Groups and organizational change (Donovan, Meyer & Fitzgerald, 2007) Leadership development within organizational contexts (Johnson, 2008)

6 Needed Research: Application of TLE in Business School Education and Curriculum Kets devries & Korotov (2007): Exceptional theoretical piece in the Academy of Management Journal (Learning and Education) which defends the need for more transformative executive education programs. Based on their many years of research, teaching and consulting, they claim that people participatingin in higher level business education programswant not only to gain new knowledge, but are also looking for opportunities to facilitate: 1. Making changes in leadership behaviour 2. Increasingeffectiveness effectiveness of relationships with people aroundthem 3. Learn how to change and improve conflict resolution skills 4. Learn how to change how they currently manage stress 5. Learn how to embrace personal and organizational change initiatives 6. Learn how to change team management capabilities

7 In order to makes changes in current behaviours, the authors suggest that program designers need to go beyond pure intellectual knowledge transfer To enable change to occur (eg. help participants start implementing new ideas/thoughts ht or experimenting with new behaviours), bh )in addition to thinking about the functional side of the program, the specific developmental needs of the participants have to be considered in the program design and delivery The authors suggest a three triangle framework borrowed from the psychodynamic psychotherapy literature is extremely helpful in conceptualizing the process: The Mental Life Triangle, The Conflict Triangle, and The Relationships Triangle.

8 Methodology MBA 2 nd Year Leadership (B718) course Disorienting Dilemma staged by the instructor Within the initial four weeks of the course, students complete a series of selfscoring and other scoring diagnostics (others involved are chosen by participants) Diagnostics: Life Styles Inventory (LSI); Virtues in Action (VIA); Self Development Survey (SDS); Life Styles Inventory Conflict (LSI Conflict); Stress Processing Report (SPR); Time Management Inventory (TMI); Cultural Intelligence (CI). Awareness of thoughts, feelings, behaviours, many of which are unhealthy and unproductive. Preparation and submission (#1) of a Self Reflection and Six Week Action Plan in which they define what thoughts and behaviours they wish to change and how they will go about changing them. Preparation and submission (#2) of a Self Reflection following the six week period, allowing students to process their transformative journey.

9 Developed 45 item instrument (15 items per conceptual triangle) to measure The Mental Life Triangle, The Conflict Triangle, and The Relationship Triangle. Utilized the self report 45 item instrument to determine the perceived effectiveness on my current 2 nd year MBA Leadership course specifically its ability to provide students with an authentic TLE. Conducted a pre and post TLE study to examine the impact of a TLE on Emotional Intelligence (EI), Total Satisfaction and Total Personal Effectiveness. H1: EI will be higher after completion of a TLE H2: Total Satisfaction will be higher after completion of a TLE H3: Total Personal Effectiveness will be higher after completion of a TLE Qualitativedata collected through review of Self Reflection Journals

10 Student Reflection Journal Responses (Qualitative ti Data) t) life altering revealing, eventually empowering a professional development opportunity leading to profound growth an individual leadership experience absolutely necessary before attempting to lead others I had no idea the negative impact I was having on my health and those around me I understand dwhy I communicate the way I do now. Without this, I wouldn t be able to move forward in the needed directions This mental rewind experience has forced me to assess mental barriers that were allowing unproductive behavioursto persist I have discovered how some of my past relationships have both positively and negatively affected my current relationship and the development of new ones This has really built my self confidence