John Dirkx and I are guest editing a special issue of the Journal of Transformative Education. The call is attached, and a brief description is below. Look for this journal issue to come out in 2020.

JTED Special Issue on Assessment of Transformative Learning

In spite of decades of important theoretical work on TL theory and its applications to myriad contexts, the discipline has struggled to operationalize the theory in such a way that transformative outcomes can be effectively documented. This special issue of the Journal of Transformative Education aims to address the dilemma of the need for assessment and the lack of assessment tools specifically for transformative learning by critiquing the current state of the field, presenting new approaches to operationalizing TL theory, and suggesting new directions for research.

When this chapter comes out (it is still in press), I'll ask the publisher if I can post a copy of it here. Meanwhile, if you want a pre-production copy, just send me an email at krisac@purdue.edu. 

This chapter involved a team of six researchers who piloted two methodologies, one quantitative (using the Beliefs, Events, and Values Inventory, or BEVI) and one qualitative (based on the American Association of Colleges and Universities VALUE rubrics). We present the pilot results and discuss methodological implications.

Citation (APA): Acheson-Clair, K., Dirkx, J., Wiley, J., Ullom, C., Kapadia, S., & Bhuyan, D. (in press, 2020). Assessing transformation of the self in high impact learning: Methodological considerations. In C. Shealy (Ed.), Cultivating the globally sustainable self: How the human species might fulfill its potential. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

When this comes out (it is still in press), I will try to get the publisher's permission to post a .pdf of the chapter here. Meanwhile, if you want a pre-production copy, just send me an email at krisac@purdue.edu. 

With my co-authors, I present in this chapter two cross-walks that align Hoggan's (2016) typology for Transformative Learning theory with existing instruments that could be used to assess it - the Beliefs, Events, and Values Inventory, or BEVI, and the American Association of Colleges and Universities' VALUE rubrics. 

Citation (APA): Acheson, K., Dirkx, J., & Shealy, C. (in press, 2019). Assessing transformative learning. In E. Kostara, A. Gavrielatos, and D. Loads (Eds.), Transformative learning theory and praxis: New perspectives and possibilities. Taylor & Francis.

One of my favorite TL theory pieces, because it takes us deep into what is really important - the soul work of transformative learning. John Dirkx rocks :-) If you can't find this book handy, email John at Michigan State University - I'm sure he'll send you a copy. 

Citation (APA): Dirkx, J. M. (2012). Nurturing soul work: A Jungian approach to transformative learning. In E. Taylor & P. Cranton (Eds.), The handbook of transformative learning: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 116-130). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass

This one is not open source - you'll need to find it in your nearest library or purchase it online. If you are interested in learning more about TL Theory, this is where it all began.

Citation (APA): Mezirow, J. (1991). Transformative dimensions of adult learning. San Francisco, CA: JosseyBass

Open source article published in the Sage journal, Adult Education Quarterly.

Citation (APA): Hoggan, C. D. (2016). Transformative learning as a metatheory: Definition, criteria, and typology. Adult Education Quarterly, 66(1), 57-75.

Garrett-Rucks, P. (2016). Fostering Intercultural Competence With Standards-Based Instruction. In Intercultural competence in instructed language learning: Bridging theory and practice, 61-81.

Ebook available through Purdue Libraries.

Deardorff, D. K. (2009). The Sage handbook of intercultural competence. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 264-269. 

Additionally, the Table of Contents points to important readings worth pursuing, including conceptualizations emerging from specific language communities, and I recommend skimming anything available from Chapter 1 to get some of the breadth and challenges involved in conceptualizing intercultural competence (see Amazon link). 

Hammer, M. R. (2012). “The Intercultural Development Inventory: A new frontier in assessment and development of intercultural competence.” In M. Vande Berg, R. M. Paige & K. H. Lou (Eds.), Student learning abroad: What our students are learning, what they're not, and what we can do about it (115-136). Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Excerpt from Martin, J.N. and T.K. Nakayama (2010). Intercultural Communication in Contexts. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

A volunteer is invited to make a presentation on any topic. The volunteer is asked to double up on every verb by immediately following it with a synonym. Other participants are invited to pair up and have a conversation, doubling up on all verbs. During the debrief, the facilitator relates the experience with being preoccupied with words and sentence patterns of a second language.

Podcast and transcription of Alan Alda's interview with comedian Sarah Silverman about connecting across the political divide. 

Collecting a post

This simulation, created by Aletha Stahl, is an adaptation of Journey to Sharahad. Participants role play intercultural communication barriers.