An investigation into the relationship between lifelong learning and transformation in an individual's life : a life history of a 67 year old Black female adult learner from KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2007
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Abstract
Biographical accounts constitute an important source of information about the experiences of black women under Apartheid. This study focuses on the life of an elderly black woman and presents the various life experiences she was exposed to in her various lifelong learning contexts, as told by her. It highlights the impact of the diverse learning contexts that she was exposed to throughout her life, and develops an understanding of how her meaning perspectives were shaped and transformed by her lifelong learning experiences. This research study is qualitative in nature and employs a life history methodology, which focuses on the meanings that people attach to their experiences. It draws on three of the major interpretive paradigms that structure qualitative research, namely the interpretivist, critical and feminist paradigms. The theoretical framework contains elements of two key theories of adult learning, namely that of Transformative Learning and Critical Consciousness. It also draws on elements of Feminist Theory. The research method consisted of six open-ended life history interviews, which are special types of field interviews, in which I gathered narrative accounts about the respondent’s life. Every interview was audio-taped. Although there was a ‘pre-interview’ agreement on some possible issues that could be discussed, I did not bring a series of predetermined questions or theories into the interview process, but rather used open-ended questions that generated themes from the respondent’s lifelong learning experiences. The participant knew that she was an equal partner in identifying the major themes. My own reflections on what I heard and observed during the interviewing processes also became an important source of information in constructing the research findings. The narrative analysis approach was used to analyze and interpret the interview data. A biographical life history was constructed. This was followed by a process of negotiating the possible main themes embedded in the biographical life history, and then analyzing those themes, which were subsequently interpreted individually for their meaning. This life history study illustrates that Madelwa constructed her identity through the various discourses and lifelong learning contexts that she was exposed to. The study also found that experiential learning is central to the theories of adult learning referred to above. The transformation that happened in Madelwa’s life is the outcome of a practice of critical reflection that already started in her childhood. A crucial finding was that critical hermeneutics in this case offered Madelwa a method for investigating the conditions of her existence, and led her to challenging of the status quo. This life history study suggests that there is a definite relationship between lifelong learning experiences and transformation in an individual’s life. Linked to this transformation is the fact that this study shows that each biography has its own truth. Her life history still continues…
Description
Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.
Keywords
Adult education--South Africa., Learning strategies., Continuing education.