LESSON 1

OVERVIEW OF TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING AND DIAGNOSING THE LEARNER’S ASSUMPTION

Transformative learning theory was developed by Jack Mezirow, an American

sociologist and educator. Mezirow defines transformative learning as "the process of effecting
change in a frame of reference. A frame of reference is a "structure of assumptions through
which we understand our experience". Brookfield defines assumptions as "the taken-for-granted
beliefs about the world and our place within it that guide our actions. "Taken-for-granted beliefs
presumed to be true, although their centrality is not yet established nor known. In short, a frame
reference is a set of taken-for-granted beliefs. The purpose of transformative learning, according
to Mezirow is to make of frame reference more inclusive, discriminating, open, emotionally
capable of change and reflective so that they may generate beliefs and opinions that will prove
truer or justified to guide action. Transformative learning focuses on problematic frames of
reference. These frames could be result of cultural bias, prejudice, hate, stereotyping, sexism,
Islamophobia, and homophobic tendencies.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this module, you are expected to

1. Identify some problematic frames of reference and correct them.

2. Transform some basic assumptions you learn from the old traditions, culture, and even family
orientation.
3. Contrast the kinds of assumption by citing concrete examples

CONTENT

Assumption Defined

Stephen Brookfield defines assumptions as “taken-for-granted beliefs about the world

and our place within it that guide our actions.” Kies says that assumptions are beliefs or ideas
that we hold to be true-often with little or no evidence required. It can also be defined as
An assumption is an unexamined belief: what we think without realizing we think it. Our
inferences (also called conclusions) are often based on assumptions that we haven't thought
about critically. A critical thinker, however, is attentive to these assumptions because they are
sometimes incorrect or misguided. Just because we assume something is true doesn't mean it is.

1
Kinds of Assumptions

Brookfield identifies three kinds of assumptions, namely, paradigmatic, prescriptive, and

casual. According to him paradigmatic assumptions are “structuring assumptions we used to
order the world into fundamental categories”. The operative word here is “fundamental
categories.” This means that we assume that some things, actions, people, and events have their
proper place in the world. For examples: Gifts are symbols of generosity, cooking is a skill,
educated people possess
good manners, Teachers are exemplars of moral excellence, Birthdays are joyous events.
Nkwake lists down five forms of paradigmatic assumptions-ontological, epistemological,
cultural, and idiosyncratic assumptions.

Ontological assumptions are assumptions we make about reality.

Epistemological assumptions are assumptions about how reality can be known.

Cultural assumptions are cultural biases through which we interpret the world.

Idiosyncratic assumptions are products of an individual’s personal experience

Prescriptive assumptions are assumptions about what we think ought to be happening in

a particular situation.

Paradigmatic assumption: Students learns best though collaborative learning activity.

Prescriptive assumption: Teachers should engage students in collaborative learning

activity to maximize learning.

Casual assumptions are assumptions about how the different parts of the world work and
about the conditions under which these can be changes. For example, when there is
smoke, there is fire.