I Know More Than I Can Say: A Taxonomy for Using Expressive Ways of Knowing to Foster Transformative Learning

Abstract

On the basis of an empirical analysis of 11 case studies and interviews with seven adult educators, this article offers a conceptual map for understanding how expressive ways of knowing function in fostering whole-person learning and transformative change. This conceptual map is formulated as a taxonomy with two primary categories. The first category, creating the learning environment, explores how expressive ways of knowing can be used to create psychological readiness for whole-person learning and an empathic field for learning-within-relationship. The second category, fostering the learning, explores how expressive ways of knowing can be used to evoke the experience learners seek to know more about, bring emotion into consciousness, and codify learning experiences for future access. In addition to the taxonomy, the findings also include educators' insights about the importance of developing their own readiness to encounter students as whole persons.