Reflection of Transformative Learning

I understand transformative learning to be something that takes place at a time in our lives when what we have previously believed comes into question. Some event or discussion or type of learning happens where we tend to change the way we think, we let go of some of our discrimination and take hold of a more open view. I have a hard time thinking of examples where this has happened in my own life. Maybe I am still narrow minded, or maybe my definition of transformative learning is wrong.
One example I can think of is the way I view physicians. Early on in my nursing education, probably in my first semester I began with my view that all doctors were basically rude and condescending to nurses. As I went through school, and began working after graduation, these beliefs held true. They would yell for no reason, make you look like you didn't know what you were doing in front of patients, and act like they had never seen you if you passed them in the halls. I vowed that I would never work in the doctors office. My transformative learning did not come from a discussion, but more from several encounters. I knew a urologist fairly well from the hospital and applied for his nurse position because the office schedule worked better than the hospital schedule for school. After a few days in his clinic, he began talking to me like I was a person. Asked if I was doing anything over the weekend, talked about his family, and told jokes. These few experiences caused me to take a look at the way I viewed physicians. I realized they were human and put their pants on just like I did. I had to make a change in the way I viewed and talked to them. When I work at the hospital now, I find myself engaging the doctors in conversation, and in return they talk and acknowledge me in the halls.

Transformative Learning

I think the discussion in class last night on transformative learning may have been exhausting for many of us. It was interesting to see how passionate we all were. The part I thought was best was that we were all able to share our opinions openly, and it seemed like everyone respected each others ideas.
For me, the whole concept is hard to grasp. I come from an education background that is about 50/50 with behaviorist and cognitivist. In the classroom, you are pretty much fed information. Like an empty vessel, they try to fill you with knowledge. There isn't much thinking or reflecting. In nursing things are pretty much black and white. Again, in the clinical setting, our learning tends to be more behaviorist. You watch someone change a central line dressing, then you are expected to be able to do it.
There isn't a lot of reflecting on your feelings to come to a crossroads in your understanding. I don't really come to conflict with myself about any prior knowledge or ideas I have had, so I don't have that many opportunities in the work place for transformative change. As for learning about myself in my personal life, I have a hard time thinking of an example of this type of learning. Maybe it would be a type of transformational learning if I did realize I had had one of those experiences.

Becoming a Mentor

I never realized how formal and self directing becoming a mentor could be. The articles we read in class seemed very focused on the mentor. There were several steps and self reflection questions that were to be asked of yourself throughout the process. If you look at mentoring by the examples we used in class, then my Dad would not qualify. We did not sit down when I was born and establish a set of goals and objectives. We did not have a period of closure. Although I thought the articles were interesting, I am not sure I agree totally. I think some of the best mentors I have had are informal, and there may be no closure.
I am actually looking forward to our next assignment where we look into our own teaching style and theory. I am going to use two approaches because my experience comes from the classroom and hands on. I think I have a chance to learn a lot about myself, how I learn, and how I teach others.

Pratt's Teaching Perspectives Inventory

I found class very interesting this week. My degree in psychology may have helped with my comfort level on the topic of learning theories. So far, I think I most closely relate or agree with behavioral. This may be due to the fact that I am an apprentice style teacher. Like professor Carter stated in class, we may tend to go to the style we are used to being taught from. As a nurse, much of my learning has been hands on. As the saying goes, see one, do one, teach one. A lot of our schooling is clinical experience where we are expected to go in with the patients and act as a nurse. Learning for this field can not be completed in the classroom alone.

I think from an early age we learn through behaviorism. I know in my family poor behavior was never rewarded. We received money for A's in school, and were punished when we disobeyed. I don't think we are as simple as teaching a dog to salivate, but on some level it is similar. A perfect example comes from my own family. My brother is trying to potty train my nephew. They are rewarding him by giving him M&Ms. He learned quickly that peeing in the toilet would give him chocolate. Soon he was peeing very small amounts every 5 or 10 minutes to get more M&Ms. Pretty smart if you ask me.