Making it real
Exploring transdisciplinary curriculum at dubai women’s college
Abstract
This paper describes a case study of the design and implementation of a transdisciplinary curriculum design (Drake, 2007) at Dubai Women’s College through the lens of transformative learning theory (Mezirow, 2000). Data were collected during the 2008-2009 academic year from 19 participant educators and supervisors and consisted of three interviews and textual data in the form of: lesson plans, syllabi, curriculum project documents, assessments, strategic plans, and field notes. The following themes are discussed and related to transformative learning theory in context: (a) aspects of life and change for Emirati female students, (b) the transdisciplinary curriculum company visit, (b) the transdisciplinary curriculum bazaar, (c) the transdisciplinary curriculum current issues forum, (d) Emirati identity and empowerment, and (e) Emiratization – the overriding goal. Findings reveal the nature of transformative learning in this Arab context during a period of globalization and change.
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References
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Stake, R. (1995). The art of case study research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Stake, R. (Ed.). (2005). The Sage handbook of qualitative research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Taylor, E. (2003). Looking back five years: A critical review of transformative learning theory. In C. A. Wiessner, S. R. Meyer, N. L. Pfhal, & P. G. Neaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the fifth international conference on transformative learning (pp. 396-402). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
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Bamber, P., & Hankin, L. (2011). Transformative learning through service-learning: no passport required. Education + Training, 53(2/3), 190-206.
Benaquisto, L. (2008). Open coding. In L. Given (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of qualitative research methods. (pp. 582-583). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412963909.n299
Brock, S., & Abel, A. (2012). Creating a Learning Climate For The 21st Century: Applying transformative learning to teaching methods in Business schools. Transformative Dialogues: Teaching & Learning Journal, 5(3), 1-16.
Brown, K. (2006). Leadership for social justice and equity: Evaluating a transformative framework and andragogy. Educational Administration Quarterly, 42(5), 700-745.
Carawan, L. W., Knight, S., Wittman, P., Pokorny, M., & Velde, B. P. (2011). On becoming a qualitative researcher: A view through the lens of transformative learning. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 31(4), 387-399. doi:10.1080/08841233.2011.597671
Christofi, V., & Thompson, C., (2007). You Cannot Go Home Again: A Phenomenological Investigation of Returning to the Sojourn Country After Studying Abroad. Journal of Counseling & Development, 85(1) 53-63. doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00444.x
Cranton, P., & Carusetta, E. (2004). Developing authenticity in teaching as transformative learning. Journal of Transformative Education, 2(4), 276-293.
Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Creswell, J. W. (2002). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating
quantitative and qualitative research. Upper Saddle Creek, NJ: Pearson.
Creswell, J. W. (2005). Educational research: Planning, conducting and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.
Davidson, C. (2008). Dubai: The vulnerability of success. Dubai, UAE: Hurst & Company.
Drake, S. (2007). Creating standards-based integrated curriculum: Aligning curriculum, content, assessment, and instruction (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Durie, R., & Wyatt, K. (2013). Connecting communities and complexity: a case study in creating the conditions for transformational change. Critical Public Health, 23(2), 174-187. doi:10.1080/09581596.2013.781266
DWC, (2010). Mission statement and shared values: Dubai Women’s College. Retrieved from http://dwc.hct.ac.ae/AboutDWC.aspx
Ellis, R. (2006). Task-based learning in an Asian context. Asian EFL Journal, 8(3), 1-8.
Gardner, W. (1995). Developing a quality teaching force for the United Arab Emirates. Journal of Education for Teaching, 21(3), 289-320.
Godwin, S. M. (2006). Globalization, education and emiratization: A study of the United Arab Emirates. Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries, 27(1), 1-14.
Gutierrez, L. M. (1995). Understanding the empowerment process: Does consciousness make a difference? Social Work Research, 19, 229-237.
Heard-Bey, F. (2005) the United Arab Emirates: Statehood and nation building in a traditional society, Middle East Journal, 59(3), 357-375.
Henderson, J., & Gornik, J. (2007). Transformative curriculum leadership (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Higher Colleges of Technology Academic Services. (2007). HCT learning model. Dubai, UAE: Higher Colleges of Technology.
Holley, K. (2009). Interdisciplinary Strategies as Transformative Change in Higher Education. Innovative Higher Education, 34(5), 331-344. doi:10.1007/s10755-009-9121-4
HRH Sheikh Nahayan (2008). Higher Colleges of Technology Strategic Plan for 2008-2010. Abu Dhabi, UAE: HCT Press.
Jawaher, S., & Al Manar, A. (2009). Who am I: Who are you? Proudly Emirati, Sharjah,
UAE: Sharjah Women’s College.
Kovan, J., & Dirkx, J. (2003). Being called awake: The role of transformative learning in the lives of environmental activists. Adult Education Quarterly, 53 (2), 99-118.
Lovering, M. (2012). Beyond the veil: A Case Study of Context, Culture, Curriculum,
and Constructivism at Dubai Women’s College. Unpublished Ph.D dissertation,
Brock University, Canada.
Merriam, S. (1998). Qualitative research and case study: Applications in education. San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Merriam, S., & Ntseane, G. (2008). Transformational learning in Botswana: How culture shapes the process. Adult Education Quarterly, 58(3), 183-197.
Merriam, S. (2010). Globalization and the role of adult and continuing education: Challenges and opportunities. In C.E. Kasworm, A.D. Rose, & J.M. Ross-Gordon (Eds.) Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education (pp. 400-409). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
Mezirow, J. (2000). Learning as transformation: Critical perspectives on a theory in progress. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Saudelli, M.G., Mogadime, D., & Taber, N. (2013). A conversation with Sharan Merriam. Brock Education Journal Special Issue, 22(2), 3-11.
Stake, R. (1995). The art of case study research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Stake, R. (Ed.). (2005). The Sage handbook of qualitative research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Taylor, E. (2003). Looking back five years: A critical review of transformative learning theory. In C. A. Wiessner, S. R. Meyer, N. L. Pfhal, & P. G. Neaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the fifth international conference on transformative learning (pp. 396-402). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Taylor, E. (2007). An update of transformative learning theory: A critical review of the empirical research. International Journal of Lifelong education, 26(2), 173-191.
Taylor, E., & Cranton, P. (2012). The Handbook of Transformative Learning: Theory, Research, and Practice. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.
Thomas, E. (2007). Thoughtful planning fosters learning transfer. Adult Learning, 18, 3-4
UAE Ministerial Decision No. 176 (February, 2009). Regulating the Termination of UAE
Nationals Working in the Private Sector. Emiratisation. Retrieved from
http://emiratisation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125%3Aunder-what-conditions-can-an-emirate-employee-be-dismissed-&catid=65%3Ajobseekers-faqs&Itemid=98&lang=en
UAE, Ministry of the Economy (2010, March). Tanmia (UAE National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority) Emiratization and leadership report. Dubai, UAE: Author.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. (2006). Trends in total migrant stock: The 2005 revision. New York, NY
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Making it real: Exploring transdisciplinary curriculum at dubai women’s college. (2014). Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 2(2), 20-37. https://ojed.org/jise/article/view/1481
