Between Surviving and Thriving—New Approaches to Understanding Learning for Transformation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22044142 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Saskia Eschenbacher (0000-0003-3460-3881, Department of Education, Akkon University of Applied Sciences, 12099 Berlin, Germany, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 662 |
| Publication date | 2025-05-27 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Education Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2227-7102 • E-ISSN: 2227-7102 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/educsci15060662 |
| OpenAlex | W4410839581 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 15 |
Background: Paramedics and firefighters frequently encounter critical incidents that require both deep learning and emotional processing. This study investigates how reflective writing facilitates these processes, addressing the need to understand professional development in high-stress environments. Methods: The research analyzed reflective writings from 57 second-year Management of Catastrophe Defense undergraduates who were active emergency service workers. Using Mayring’s qualitative content analysis, the study examined participants’ descriptions of critical workplace incidents, emotional responses, and long-term impacts. The theoretical framework combines Paul’s concept of transformative experiences, Schön’s reflective practice, and Jarvis’s experiential learning theory. Results: The analysis revealed three key dimensions: transformative experiences, the role of conversation with the situation in meaning making and the significance of whole-person learning in understanding emotional presence and absence, and the role of reflective writing in understanding learning processes. The study uncovered complex patterns in how professionals process critical incidents and manage emotions in high-stress environments. Conclusions: Reflective writing serves as an effective tool for processing experiences and developing professional resilience, although the process of engaging with traumatic memories through reflection presents its own complexities. These insights contribute to the understanding of learning processes and professional development in high-stress environments
Mathematics education · Social science · Sociology · Thriving · Adult and Continuing Education Topics · Chemistry · Computer Science · Education and Critical Thinking Development · Ego Development and Educational Practices · Psychology
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |