Transformative Learning in Online Courses

Abstract

This exploratory research was concerned with looking for evidence of transformative learning in an online Master's program at a major research university. Mezirow's transformative learning theory was used as the theoretical perspective in the study. A survey instrument which was correlated with Mezirow's ten tenets of transformative learning was used to illicit quantitative information in order to discover evidence of transformative learning. In addition, open response questions were used to further ascertain the perspective of students about their online education. Findings and conclusions./ This study found that approximately 39% of the participants showed evidence of transformative learning and that there was a statistically significant association between the number of semesters a participant had been enrolled in the program and the occurrence of that transformative learning.