Transformational learning and educational reform through critical reflection: The promise of dialogue

Abstract

The focus of this research is to explore the effectiveness of sustained dialogue, introduced to four cohorts each representing the educational stakeholders in a suburban school community, as a means to promote critical reflection on the desired outcomes of public education. There were two purposes to the research: to create the opportunity for participants to experience transformational learning through critical reflection, and to create a final document of the desirable knowledge, skills, and attitudes that children should acquire in order to be successful in achieving a desirable future and to successfully meet the challenges they now endure and will face as adults. That final document will become the basis for the development of a new school community mission and vision statement and will hopefully be the impetus for educational reform.