Being fish: Sounding the depths in the reflecting pools of lifelong learning (adult learners)

This autobiographical research reflects an adult learner exploring the meaning of (her) life experiences to deepen (her) understanding. The writer's exploration began with a call to "Be Fish." The metaphor of fish helped her to shift perspective, and helped her to see what was hidden from view beneath the surface of her everyday life. She explored literature that refers to fish, including the story of Parsival and his encounters with the Fisher King, the story of Merlyn changing Wart (the future King Arthur) into a fish, as well as references to fish by Virginia Woolf, A. S. Byatt, and a Tlingit legend. Through transposing these stories into and onto her life, she comes to see how the theme of separation has played out in (her) life, and she re-cognizes relationship with other as a way of (re)connecting.; In the work, notions of adult learning are re-cognized: transformation(al learning), adult development, experiential learning, professional development and self-directed learning. In review-ing the literature on adult education, the importance of considering context is noted.; The process of learning that is demonstrated and the insights in the thesis are provocative for adult learners and educators. Autobiographical writing and research may be seen as a form of ongoing professional development.