Kiss Éva Mariann

Mastering Academic Competencies

A Guide to Effective Learning and Success

3.4 A Holistic Perspective on Learning: Beyond Cognitive Transformation

While Mezirow’s theory emphasises the transformation of meaning perspectives through critical reflection, other perspectives highlight that learning extends beyond cognitive reinterpretation alone. Jarvis (2006) conceptualises learning as a holistic and existential process involving the whole person, integrating thought, emotion, and action within a social context.

A central concept in Jarvis’s work is disjuncture, which occurs when there is a gap between an individual’s existing biography and a new experience that cannot be easily understood. This moment of disruption initiates the learning process, prompting individuals to reflect, adapt, and reconstruct their understanding of the world. Unlike purely cognitive models, this perspective recognises that learning may involve emotional responses, identity shifts, and social interaction, rather than solely rational analysis.

In this sense, learning is not only about changing how we think, but also about how we experience, interpret, and respond to the world around us. Integrating this perspective with transformative learning highlights that meaningful learning often involves both critical reflection and personal transformation, shaping not only knowledge but also the learner’s sense of self.

Tartalomjegyzék

Kiadó: Akadémiai Kiadó

Online megjelenés éve: 2026

ISBN: 978 963 664 192 4

Pedagógia Idegen nyelvű

Developing Academic Competencies offers a comprehensive and practice-oriented guide to the development of essential academic and professional skills required for success in contemporary higher education. Addressing the evolving demands placed on students in increasingly international, digital, and performance-driven academic environments, the book integrates evidence-based learning strategies with practical tools that support effective studying, assessment preparation, academic writing, teamwork, and reflective learning.

The volume adopts a student-centred and competence-based approach, combining theory with applied examples, exercises, and self-assessment activities to foster independent, critical, and strategic learners. Particular attention is given to transferable skills such as time management, collaboration, problem-solving, and academic integrity, while also engaging with the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence in learning, research, and writing. Rather than positioning AI as a shortcut, the book emphasises its potential as a supportive tool that enhances productivity, critical evaluation, and metacognitive awareness.

Designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students across disciplines, as well as for instructors seeking structured support materials, Developing Academic Competencies bridges the gap between academic expectations and student preparedness. By empowering learners with adaptable strategies and reflective practices, the book contributes to improved academic performance, lifelong learning capabilities, and employability in a rapidly changing knowledge economy.

Hivatkozás: https://mersz.hu/kiss-mastering-academic-competencies//

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