| Educational systems must provide students with exposure to the new realities of the global economy, developing programs that educate the adult work force with needed global awareness and skills. As these adults return to the classroom, programs must be designed with the adult learner in mind. Study abroad programs provide a means for adult learners to have a global learning experience. But the outcomes of these programs in terms of transformational learning are not known. This phenomenological study explored the essence of the transformational experience of twelve adult learners engaged in study abroad programs in Beijing, China during the summer of 2008. Data were gathered by conducting in-depth interviews with participants during their time in China and two to three months after returning home. Thematically, three tiers of transformational learning emerged as a result of their experiences. The tiers of transformation were termed, "The World is Flat," "Thinking Globally," and "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally." These terms were adapted from the writings of author Thomas Friedman and described the three levels of transformation as it relates to global awareness in the study's participants. In the first tier, participants used their experience to reinforce their prior knowledge, demonstrating minimal change in thoughts and perceptions. In the second tier, participants adapted their assumptions or changed their perceptions to hold a more global view. In the third and final tier, some participants incorporated their learning experiences into their lives and made changes as a result of their experiences. As a result of this research, the researcher developed nine recommendations on how to improve the adult learner experience in study abroad settings. |
