First Reader

Chapter 5: Transformative Learning

Transformative Learning and the Skills Gap

“Over the next decade nearly 3 ½ million manufacturing jobs likely need to be filled. The skills gap is expected to result in 2 million of those jobs going unfilled.” (Deloitte Manufacturing Institute, 2015) Why is this so? When someone mentions the word “manufacturing”, what images and feelings come to mind? Do you envision a poorly lit, dirty, environment that requires hard, physically demanding, repetitive, tedious work? Or do visions of robots, high speed conveyors, and computerized equipment working in a well-lit, clean environment with their highly skilled, well-trained human companions come to mind?

 Photo credit: Getty Image

Photo Credit: robohub.org

Merriam and Bierema suggest that a “disorienting dilemma is the most easily identified as triggering the process, there can be an accumulation of experiences over time that eventually come together to foster a transformation” (Merriam and Bierema, 2014). Our text continues to suggest that “Transformative learning involves an enhanced level of awareness of the context of one’s beliefs and feelings… a decision to negate an old perspective in favor of a new one or to make a synthesis of old and new, an ability to take action based upon the new perspective.” (Merriam and Bierema, 2014).  As I read these words, I realized this is exactly what I see in my daily work. I sit in meeting after meeting to determine the best course of action to help our local manufacturers find qualified workers and train their current ones.

 In order for the manufactures to continue to produce goods in the United States, a transformation of the current feelings and perceptions of manufacturing must change.

Changing the mindset of both parents and high school students was the driving force for the creating of this video. This is the very reason my college create the “Made in Henderson County” video. The manufacturers have a real need of skilled labor. In order to attract talent, it became necessary to change the way manufacturing is perceived. It is not necessarily dirty, mindless work any longer. Employees work in a fast-paced, high tech environment. This message will need to be sent over and over again.

Community Colleges see this “disorienting dilemma” every day. A common trigger occurs when one cannot find a job or perhaps promotions are denied because of a lack of technical skills and/or education. This lack of employ-ability forces them to take action. We always joke that in order for this call to action or new perspective to take place, two of the three dilemmas must transpire: birth of a child/children, a spouse, and/or a mortgage. These are events that cause one to reflect and transform.

Resources:

Merriam, S. & Bierema, L. (2014). Adult learning: Linking theory and practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass

Video: Made In Henderson County

The Skills Gap in US Manufacturing 2015 and Beyond, Deloitte Manufacturing Institute 2015