Title: Transformative Education: Building Knowledge for a Changing World
Transformative education reimagines the role of learning, focusing on empowering students to actively shape their lives and the world around them. This approach goes beyond traditional classrooms, encouraging students to engage in knowledge-making with peers, families, and communities while addressing both local and global issues.

One inspiring example of transformative education is highlighted in The MET, where there are no traditional classes or grades, yet the school achieves a remarkable 94% graduation rate. This demonstrates how individualized, project-based learning can foster engagement and success, even for students who might struggle in conventional systems.

Similarly, Paulo Freire’s concept of education as liberation challenges the traditional power dynamics in classrooms, urging educators to empower students as active participants in their own learning journeys. This approach not only changes the balance of agency but also inspires students to tackle broader social challenges.

However, the shift to transformative education is not without challenges. Critics argue that it can be difficult to scale and implement within traditional systems, especially in under-resourced schools. But as Ken Robinson’s insights on creativity suggest, a failure to transform education risks stifling the potential of future generations.

Transformative education holds immense promise, but its success depends on building supportive environments and addressing systemic barriers. How do you think we can make transformative education more accessible and sustainable across diverse contexts?

• Souad Atigi

One of the most influential educational breakthroughs of recent decades is Project-Based Learning (PBL). Unlike traditional, lecture-based instruction, PBL is a student-centered approach where learners actively explore real-world difficulties and discover answers through prolonged projects. This method stresses critical thinking, cooperation, creativity, and self-directed learning, making education more engaging and meaningful.
In PBL, the teacher is no longer the exclusive source of knowledge but functions as a facilitator and guide. Students take responsibility of their learning, engaged in inquiry-driven activities that encourage autonomy and greater understanding. This transformation converts the classroom into a platform for active investigation and innovation, rather than passive knowledge absorption.
Unlike traditional curricula that compartmentalize subjects, PBL integrates many disciplines through authentic problem-solving. For example, a project on climate change would need students to apply principles from science, mathematics, and social studies while generating solutions. This bridges the gap between academic knowledge and actual application, making learning more relevant and impactful.

• Najia Hichmine

A striking critique of traditional education is presented in this excerpt from Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The notion of banking education is used to describe the way in which students are treated as passive recipients of knowledge rather than active participants in their own learning. This model, according to Freire, stifles creativity, perpetuates hierarchical power structures, and dehumanizes pupils by turning them to containers for information. Freire's argument is that these are all negative outcomes. Education is aligned with emancipation and humanization through his alternative, problem-posing education, which places an emphasis on discourse, critical thinking, and active involvement with the world to achieve this alignment. His stress on education as a practice of freedom—a transforming process in which both teachers and students learn together through inquiry and reflection—is one of the most important strengths of Freire's argument. This presents a challenge to the notion that knowledge is a fixed commodity and replaces it with the perspective that it is something that is co-constructed via contact and experience. Further, the fact that he places such an emphasis on social context draws attention to the part that education plays in either preserving or changing oppressive organizational structures.
However, while Freire’s goal is appealing, adopting problem-posing education on a global scale raises obstacles. A great number of educational institutions are organized around standardized curricula and tests, which place an emphasis on efficiency rather than learning that is in-depth and introspective. In addition, there are opponents who contend that not all knowledge can or should be developed solely through discussion; rather, there are certain core notions that may require direct instruction.
Despite these problems, Freire’s work remains a cornerstone of progressive and critical pedagogy, urging educators to reconsider their role and see students as active actors in their own intellectual and social growth. As discussions on student-centered learning, justice in education, and the purpose of schooling continue to develop, his vision continues to be especially pertinent in the present day.

• Najia Hichmine

A striking critique of traditional education is presented in this excerpt from Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The notion of banking education is used to describe the way in which students are treated as passive recipients of knowledge rather than active participants in their own learning. This model, according to Freire, stifles creativity, perpetuates hierarchical power structures, and dehumanizes pupils by turning them to containers for information. Freire's argument is that these are all negative outcomes. Education is aligned with emancipation and humanization through his alternative, problem-posing education, which places an emphasis on discourse, critical thinking, and active involvement with the world to achieve this alignment. His stress on education as a practice of freedom—a transforming process in which both teachers and students learn together through inquiry and reflection—is one of the most important strengths of Freire's argument. This presents a challenge to the notion that knowledge is a fixed commodity and replaces it with the perspective that it is something that is co-constructed via contact and experience. Further, the fact that he places such an emphasis on social context draws attention to the part that education plays in either preserving or changing oppressive organizational structures.
However, while Freire’s goal is appealing, adopting problem-posing education on a global scale raises obstacles. A great number of educational institutions are organized around standardized curricula and tests, which place an emphasis on efficiency rather than learning that is in-depth and introspective. In addition, there are opponents who contend that not all knowledge can or should be developed solely through discussion; rather, there are certain core notions that may require direct instruction.
Despite these problems, Freire’s work remains a cornerstone of progressive and critical pedagogy, urging educators to reconsider their role and see students as active actors in their own intellectual and social growth. As discussions on student-centered learning, justice in education, and the purpose of schooling continue to develop, his vision continues to be especially pertinent in the present day.

• Najia Hichmine

A striking critique of traditional education is presented in this excerpt from Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The notion of banking education is used to describe the way in which students are treated as passive recipients of knowledge rather than active participants in their own learning. This model, according to Freire, stifles creativity, perpetuates hierarchical power structures, and dehumanizes pupils by turning them to containers for information. Freire's argument is that these are all negative outcomes. Education is aligned with emancipation and humanization through his alternative, problem-posing education, which places an emphasis on discourse, critical thinking, and active involvement with the world to achieve this alignment. His stress on education as a practice of freedom—a transforming process in which both teachers and students learn together through inquiry and reflection—is one of the most important strengths of Freire's argument. This presents a challenge to the notion that knowledge is a fixed commodity and replaces it with the perspective that it is something that is co-constructed via contact and experience. Further, the fact that he places such an emphasis on social context draws attention to the part that education plays in either preserving or changing oppressive organizational structures.
However, while Freire’s goal is appealing, adopting problem-posing education on a global scale raises obstacles. A great number of educational institutions are organized around standardized curricula and tests, which place an emphasis on efficiency rather than learning that is in-depth and introspective. In addition, there are opponents who contend that not all knowledge can or should be developed solely through discussion; rather, there are certain core notions that may require direct instruction.
Despite these problems, Freire’s work remains a cornerstone of progressive and critical pedagogy, urging educators to reconsider their role and see students as active actors in their own intellectual and social growth. As discussions on student-centered learning, justice in education, and the purpose of schooling continue to develop, his vision continues to be especially pertinent in the present day.

• Najia Hichmine

La pédagogie transformative, en se concentrant sur l'apprenant et l'apprentissage, offre une perspective puissante sur la manière dont l'éducation peut transformer les chances des étudiants et influencer les conditions sociales. Pour cadrer ce type d'apprentissage, il est important de définir des objectifs pédagogiques qui vont au-delà de la simple transmission de connaissances, en favorisant la construction active du savoir par les étudiants. Cela nécessite un environnement d'apprentissage structuré mais flexible, où les apprenants sont encouragés à collaborer avec leurs pairs, leurs parents et les membres de leur communauté. Ces relations latérales, basées sur la co-création des connaissances, permettent aux étudiants de négocier les différences locales et mondiales et d'acquérir une vision plus large du monde.

Les enseignants doivent jouer un rôle de facilitateur, en guidant les étudiants dans leurs réflexions et en les aidant à intégrer des perspectives diverses. En parallèle, les activités pédagogiques doivent être conçues pour favoriser l'engagement et l'interaction, tant à l'intérieur qu'à l'extérieur de la salle de classe traditionnelle. L'utilisation des technologies, des projets interdisciplinaires ou des plateformes collaboratives peut également étendre la portée de l'apprentissage, en connectant les étudiants à des expériences et des ressources au-delà des frontières scolaires. Ce type d'approche permet aux étudiants non seulement de transformer leur manière d'apprendre, mais aussi d’agir activement dans le monde, contribuant ainsi à une transformation sociale durable.

• Chaimae Benjbara

Comment on Transformative Education: New Learning

Transformative education represents a significant shift from traditional pedagogical approaches by centering the learner in the educational process. By prioritizing the transformation of students’ life chances, this pedagogy acknowledges the profound impact of social conditions on learning. It empowers students to take ownership of their education, promoting a collaborative approach to knowledge creation that involves peers, parents, and community members. This inclusive strategy not only enriches the learning experience but also fosters a sense of agency, enabling students to engage critically with local and global issues.

Moreover, the emphasis on extending learning beyond the confines of the classroom is particularly noteworthy. It reflects an understanding that education is not merely a transfer of knowledge but a dynamic process that should adapt to the realities of learners' lives. By integrating real-world experiences and community engagement into the curriculum, transformative pedagogy prepares students to navigate and contribute to an increasingly complex society.

Update:

While transformative pedagogy offers a progressive framework for education, its implementation can face challenges. For instance, the effectiveness of this approach heavily relies on the teacher's ability to facilitate open dialogue and create an inclusive environment. Not all educators may have the training or resources necessary to adopt such methods, which could lead to inconsistencies in application across different educational contexts.

Additionally, there is a risk that the focus on collaboration and community involvement might overshadow the need for structured knowledge acquisition. Striking the right balance between fostering independent thought and providing foundational knowledge is crucial. Critics may argue that without a solid grounding in essential skills and concepts, students may struggle to engage meaningfully with the transformative processes encouraged by this pedagogy.

Furthermore, the transformative nature of this approach demands a re-evaluation of assessment methods. Traditional assessments may not adequately capture the depth of learning and growth that occurs in transformative settings. Therefore, developing new evaluation strategies that reflect individual and collective learning achievements becomes essential for the success of transformative education.

In summary, while transformative education presents an innovative and inclusive framework for learning, ongoing support, training for educators, and the development of appropriate assessment tools are vital to its successful implementation and sustainability.

• Flore Gilbuena

Transformative or reflexive pedagogy has marked a move from traditional and directive models of education towards a more student-centered one, premised on the value of interaction and responsiveness. This model will engage students as active partners in the process of learning, which may better equipping them for an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Reflective of broader societal shifts toward participation and personal responsibility, transformative pedagogy enables critical thinking, flexibility, and inclusivity, and a recognition that the purpose of education is to prepare students to take responsibility over the content and process of their learning in ways that will enable them to engage with complexities in real life. This interactive methodology supports individual growth while contributing to equity, placing students in a position to contribute favorably to diversity and society.

• Shielden Grail Domilies

Outstanding concepts from “Transformative Education: Innovative Learning” is a focus on social emotional learning (SEL), a key component of education. This approach recognizes that learning is not just about academic skills. But it also involves developing emotional intelligence, resiliency and interpersonal skills. By integrating SEL into the curriculum Educators can create a more holistic learning environment. It prepares students to face challenges not only academically. but also personal and social challenges. How do you think prioritizing social emotional learning affects students' overall development and academic success?

• Michael Asis

Transformative education is reshaping learning by moving away from traditional, rote-based instruction towards more holistic and student-centered approaches. It emphasizes developing not just academic knowledge, but also critical thinking, empathy, and social responsibility. This form of education aims to foster lifelong learners who can adapt to a rapidly changing world and actively engage in creating solutions for social, economic, and environmental challenges.

One key aspect of transformative education is its focus on real-world applications and active participation from learners. This involves encouraging students to reflect on their own experiences, question established norms, and think critically about how their learning can contribute to societal transformation.

In new learning paradigms, technology plays a vital role in facilitating personalized learning and making education more accessible. Online platforms, for instance, offer students the ability to learn at their own pace and connect with diverse learning communities globally. At the same time, project-based learning and collaborative inquiry are becoming popular methods for cultivating problem-solving and innovation skills.

This approach shifts the role of educators from being mere transmitters of knowledge to becoming facilitators who guide learners in their personal growth and understanding of global challenges. Transformative education thus aligns with the goal of creating more equitable and inclusive systems that prepare learners to thrive in the complexities of the 21st century.

What stands out about transformative education is its potential to go beyond academic success. It seeks to shape active citizens who are not only skilled but also committed to using their education for social change.

• Ella Lane Garchitorena