Designing Identity Transformations Through Transformative Learning Objectives and Experiential Learning Competencies

Educators can help adult learners experience identity transformation and initiate lifelong learning by designing curriculum centered upon transformative learning objectives (TLOs) and experiential learning competencies (ELCs). TLOs point learners to the specific ways of thinking, feeling, and being in the world to which a course or other learning experience aspires. Educators might deepen the capacity for adult learners to experience transformation by creating curricula that help them develop ELCs—competencies that will enable them to learn how to learn from experience. Building educational experiences around TLOs and ELCs will not only increase the ability of adult learners to continue to learn after a course or program ends but will also increase the likelihood that their lifelong learning experiences will be transformative ones.