Date of Graduation

12-2011

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Human Resource and Workforce Development (EdD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders

Advisor/Mentor

Kacirek, Kit

Committee Member

Deggs, David M.

Second Committee Member

Grover, Kenda S.

Keywords

Adult development; Generativity; Life stories; Lifelong learning; Portraiture; Transformative learning

Abstract

This qualitative narrative case study uses the Social science portraiture approach to explore how the learning experiences of a retired manufacturing manager have influenced his identity and his choice of an encore career in education. Hal B. is a retired manufacturing manager in his 70s who is now an instructor of leadership, management, and process improvement for working adults in a mid-south regional university. The portraiture approach to Hal's experience of a second career as an educator exemplifies the ways in which generativity, a person's need to care for and prepare future generations (Erikson, 1980), and storytelling are factors that help shape personal identity and lead to transformative learning. Hal's life story exemplifies the way in which adult learners reinvent themselves through reflection and transformative learning experiences. Findings of the study include significant tension between education and experience, the importance of experiencing the generative action of others, the ways in which generativity influences learning, the function of storytelling as a means of reflection and transformative learning, and the benefits of encore careers for institutions of higher education.

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