The Association of Transformative Learning Theory with the Perspective of Freire

After many decades of study, the connection between Transformative Learning Theory and Freire’s perspective live again as a fresh and generative debate. Join us for an open conversation with Prof. José Eustáquio Romão of the World Council of Institutes Paulo Freire and Prof. Ted Fleming, Adjunct Faculty member at Teachers College Columbia University to explore the affinities and challenges of this link. Warming up points:

1. Key concepts of TL in connection with Freire perspective
2. Traces of Freire in transformational theories
3. Misunderstandings and gray zones
4. Suggestions for educational research and practices

Profs. Alexis Kokkos and Claudio Melacarne will facilitate the event introducing the key themes and the guests. Together we’ll explore how to develop and to energize Paulo Freire studies into the field of transformational theories and into International Transformative Learning Association.

ITLA Members attend this event for free. 

José Eustáquio Romão is Founding Director of the Paulo Freire Institute of Brazil and General Secretary of the World Council of Paulo Freire Institutes. He is Director and Professor of the Post-Graduation in Education (Doctorate and Masters), at Universidade Nove de Julho (Uninove), São Paulo, as well as a Visiting Professor at universities in Portugal, Uruguay, Colombia and the USA. He researches Paulo Freire’s thinking, Municipal Evaluation and Education.

Ted Fleming is an Adjunct Faculty member at Teachers College Columbia University where he studied for MA and EdD with Jack Mezirow. He later studied with Paulo Freire. He was Professor/Head of Department of Adult Education at Maynooth University. Dr. Fleming’s research interests include critical social theory and access to higher education.

Alexis Kokkos is Emeritus Professor of Adult Education at Hellenic Open University and Chairman of the Hellenic Adult Education Association. His interests are in critical reflection and aesthetic experience. He recently edited Expanding Transformation Theory: Affinities between Jack Mezirow and Emancipatory Educationalists (Routledge, 2020) and published Exploring Art for Perspective Transformation (Brill, 2021). Prof. Kokkos is a member of the ITLA Leadership Circle and Co-leader of Research & Practice Circle.

Claudio Melacarne, Ph.D, is Associate Professor of Social Pedagogy at University of Siena. His research focuses on theories of adult and continuing education and collaborative research methodologies. He is Co-director of the Educational Reflective Practices Journal and of the Ph.D. Program in “Organizational learning and innovation in workplaces and social contexts”. Dr. Melacarne is a member of the ITLA Leadership Circle.