Capturing Transgressive Learning in Communities Spiraling towards Sustainability

Thomas Macintyre*, V.C. Tassone, A.E.J. Wals

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This empirical paper addresses the need for more in depth understanding of signs and characteristics of transgressive learning in a context of runaway climate change. In a world characterized by systemic global dysfunction, there is an urgency to foster rapid systemic change which can steer our paths towards meeting the SDG goals. The contention of this paper is that, although there is a need for rapid change, it is fundamental to understand how such change can come about, so as to co-create and investigate learning environments and forms of learning that can lead to a systemic change towards sustainability. Anchored in the emerging concept of transgressive learning, this article employs the innovative Living Spiral model to track critical learning moments by facilitators and participants in multi-stakeholder Transformation Labs (T-Labs), which took place in 2017/2018 in various grassroots sustainability initiatives in Colombia and The Netherlands. The results of the analysis highlight the importance of the values of “acknowledging uncertainty”, “community”, and “relationality” in disrupting world-views through promoting reflexivity in participants and facilitators. This paper concludes that more research on the power dynamics of “absences” in transformative research is needed to better capture the challenges of overcoming sustainability challenges.
Original languageEnglish
Article number4873
JournalSustainability
Volume12
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jun 2020

Keywords

  • Colombia
  • Living spiral model
  • Transformation labs
  • Transformative learning
  • Transgressive learning

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Capturing Transgressive Learning in Communities Spiraling towards Sustainability'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this