Facilitating Transformative Learning Groups: Reflections on Mexico and Highlander

Abstract

Introduction In the mid 1990s, the authors participated in two trips to learn about facilitating group transformative learning in differing cultural contexts. The first trip was to Guanajuato, Mexico, in order to engage in the systematic process of learning about popular adult education there. Popular education in Mexico is well developed and our host, Felix Cadena, is considered to be one of the leading experts in this methodology in all of Latin America. Popular education in the Mexican context is influenced by Paulo Freire's work. After studying the implementation of transformational learning strategies all across SouthAmerica, Cadena (1991) developed, through dialogue with those who had been struggling with empowering the disenfranchised, a systematic approach to implementing transformational learning or praxis. His approach, which draws on the work of others, emphasizes community enhancement through self-sufficiency It integrates the respectful dialogue of individuals in the community working in cooperation to solve community problems. It is through the process of identifying and solving problems that people and communities are empowered. Rather than solutions being driven by a pre-conceived theory, solutions to practical problems are based on peoples' experience as they grapple to try to solve problems for themselves. However, it is Cadena's belief that unless praxis is implemented in a systematic way, the process can break down and agreed upon goals and objectives may…