Grossett 1

Skyler Grossett
C. Wyman
English Composition
30, September 2015
Techniques for Individual Learning
Two very different learning styles are literacy and the transformative
method. Literacy is based upon learning through text and writing while
transformative is a learning process that involves more thinking and
communication. It is a way that teaches a person to open their mind and
think abstractly. Both are useful and effective methods. However literacy is
the most effective when it comes to reliable and easy to understand
information it breaks down the information into sections or domains.
Literacy practices are the general way of utilizing written language
which people draw upon in their lives (Barton and Hamilton 247). Once one
begins to think in terms of literacy events there are certain things about the
nature of reading and writing which become apparent (Barton and Hamilton
248). There are countless different ways and methods literacy can be used
for daily. Literacy is understood through reading and writing texts. There are
many methods available when using literacy ranging from dealing with
technology to academics. Each literacy can be associated with a different
domain in life (Barton and Hamilton 250). Domains are broken up into
structured contexts which make it easier for people to comprehend the
information. Literacy is often changing: its not completely set in stone.

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Literacies relationship with social institutions requires it to be flexible and

understandable to whichever individual may be using it. If the person is not a
strong reader they may do better listening to instructions.
Transformative learning is greatly influenced by other people and their
opinions and teaching style. They selectively shape and delimit
expectations, perceptions, cognition and feelings (Mezirow 268). Such as
the habits of the mind, the habits mind are broad abstract ways of thinking
and feeling (Mezirow 268). Other important methods that are used are
instrumental, impressionistic, normative, and communicative. Instrumental is
based on a person using their own knowledge to influence the people and
environment around them. Impressionistic focuses in on how a person
presents themselves. Normative is learning to have common values or a
sense of entitlement (Mezirow 269). Communicative can involve more than
one person striving to understand or reach the same goal or belief through
interaction.
While both methods can be equally effective each has its own set of
advantages. Literacy has a fairly sound unbiased foundation. Its not rigid
and can even be considered flexible. Literacy changes and adapts to each
persons learning style, it builds a foundation. Transformative allows room for
self-growth. It leaves tons of room for interpretation and expansion. But can
become biased and vague. The information is most likely coming from
another person which is a second hand source and usually not reliable. This

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makes it a tad harder to comprehend what is true and leaves to many ends
open.
Altogether both literacy and transformative are both useful styles of
learning and teaching. They both fill gaps and the other one doesnt cover or
may have missed. In truth it all really boils down to the persons
individualistic learning style. More than one method can work for a student
and help them grasp a better understanding of the content or material. A
student who thinks abstractly may gravitate towards transformative learning
while students who need step by step instructions may lean toward literacy.
Neither one necessarily trumps the other though for step by step instructions
literacy does hold an immense advantage.

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Work Cited
Barton, David, and Mary Hamilton, Exploring Relationships Globalization and
learning in the 21st
Century, Custom ed. Vol. 1. Massachusetts: Pearson Learning Solutions,
2013. 246-52 Print.
Mezirow, Jack, Exploring Relationships Globalization and Learning in the 21st
Century, Custom
ed. Vol. 1. Massachusetts: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013. 268-74