How Transformative Learning Enhances Students and Society

In 1896, John Dewey began exploring a question that still challenges us today: how do we design experiences that lead to transformative learning? He sought to open this “black box” with his theory of experiential education that focuses on how we respond to and make sense of our experiences.

The importance of Dewey’s theory became evident in World War II when Kurt Hahn created Outward Bound, a survival programme for shipwrecked British sailors that focused on shaping how they responded to their experiences. Thirty years later, nursing educator Terry Borton built on these ideas and distilled experiential learning into three simple questions: What?, So what?, and Now what? And, more recently and locally, these ideas from Dewey, Hahn, and Borton were used to help Student Volunteer Army members learn from their experiences. Join Associate Professor Billy Osteen as he explores the potential power of our experiences.

Bio

Billy O’Steen is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Canterbury. Before joining UC in 2005, he was a US Senator’s aide, Peace Corps administrator, Outward Bound consultant, whitewater raft guide, and secondary and tertiary teacher. Following the 2011 earthquake, he applied lessons from those experiences to collaborate with Dr Lane Perry and create a class, CHCH101: Rebuilding Christchurch, for Student Volunteer Army members to reflect on their experiences. Since then, over 1,000 students have taken CHCH101and have contributed over 20,000 hours to community initiatives. Outside of work, Billy enjoys experiencing the outdoors with his wife, Susan, and daughters, Lawson and Stewart.

Event

Tuesday 16 September, 6:30pm @Craft Embassy, 126 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central 8013

Also speaking at this location at 8:00pm is Dr Michelle LaRue