> From: Francesco Sofo <franks@education.canberra.edu.au>
> Learning is the process of making a new or revised interpretations of the
> meaning of an experience which guides subsequent understanding,
> appreciation and action (Mezirow, 1990, p.1). Transformative learning
> involves deep level and significant change which occurs when there is
> transformation of one's frame of reference. Frame of reference is a set of
> assumptions that we construct from our perceptions, our cognitions and our
> feelings about the world, other people and about ourselves. Frame of
> reference comprises two dimensions: habits of the mind arising from
> socio-linguistic, psychological and learning styles influences; the second
> dimension is point of view which is also influenced by the first dimension
> of habit of the mind. Ethnocentricity is an example of a habit of the
> mind. Frame of reference therefore includes emotions, concepts and
> judgements that we have when we make an interpretation. Frame of reference
> is a meaning or knowledge structure which can either improve or limit us.
snip
I developed the Decision Maker(R) Process to enablwe people to change
their "frames of refeeence." The basic principle underlying the DM Process
is that we assume meaning is inherent in events. In fact, all meaning is
in our minds. In other words, we observe something happening (e.g., when
we inspect we reduce quality defects, when we don't quality defects
increase). We then impute meaning to the events, viz., the way to insure
quality is to inspect. It seems to us as if we can "see" our belief "in
the world" -- as if the events we observed inherently mean that the way to
insure quality is to inspect.
In fact, we don't see that at all. We just see that when we inspect we
reduce quality defects, when we don't quality defects increase-- in that
particular company, given that culture, given the level of quality control
built into the manufacturing process, etc. I.e., all we see are the
specific events in a specific context -- the meaning of those events is in
our minds -- not inherent in the events.
Because we think (unconsciously) that meaning is inherent in events, we
have a hard time giving up our beliefs. I.e., we've "seen" what we believe
in the world! When we realize in any given situation that the meaning is
only in our mind, the belief (i.e., the meaning) disappears --naturally
and easily. At which point change becomes natural and easy.
Morty Lefkoe
For information about the Decision Maker(R) Institute and
my book, Re-Create Your Life: Transforming Yourself and
Your World, visit http://decisionmaker.com
--"decisionmaker.com" <Morty@decisionmaker.com>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>