Reflection On Experiential Learning Practice

Evaluation of my time spent at a London Students Union

Introduction

This report will the evaluating my experience during my experiential learning practice. Experiential learning practice (EPP) in its simplest form is developing skills through practice, followed by reflection on skills gained and their use. EPP was popularised as an alternative to written and aural taught learning, it offered a different and new way of learning through practical skills (Lewis & Williams, 1994, p. 6). For my EPP I was working within the representation team for a London Students union, A charitable membership organisation that represents and serves the students of a university. Within this evaluation report I will be outlining several Psychological theories.

(Salancik & Pfeffer, 1977) a study found that the use of the “word” goal indicates to an individual that a task is achievable. This study stresses the use of the word “goal” has a positive impact on motivation, a point held by the goal setting theory. This could therefore be applied to my EPP experience with the use of the word goal being used to describe objectives and aspirations of the organisation. However, within my time at the organisation goal setting theory was not always described as goals we needed to achieve, this may have intern limited the possible motivation given to tasks. Some goals set were not being achieved, which counters goal setting theories stance on setting achievable goals. An example of this was getting three school representatives for each course, an unlikely goal to

According to this theory the best leaders are those who best adapt themselves to the situation. An adaptive leader might look at cues such as the type of task and who is involved in group, to better their judgement. A study on university employees on situational leadership found results that indicated a situational factor in leadership when solving different job tasks (Fernandez & Vecchio, 1997). This theory has an application for the EPP that I took part in, throughout my experience I was faced with tasks that we as a team had to overcome, it became clear that the role of leader changed dependant on the task. An example would be creating the design and speech for the new PowerPoint presentation for recruitment of student staff. The situational leadership theory would explain why the members of our team more adept in presenting skills took the leadership role, this being in accordance with situational demands and