Applying the Experiential Learning Theory in Practice

1 Applying the Experiential Learning Theory in Practice Introduction Individuals often come together with a common idea and goal for purposes of accomplishing tasks and attaining objectives. The common pool which provides everybody with the opportunity to make their contributions eventually makes work easier. This is the essence of groups. They are formed with an objective and are guided by frameworks which make it possible for the members to cooperate and work towards attaining their intended goals. This paper seeks to analyze in detail how groups operate by linking practical group activities with the theoretical aspect.

Group description The Star welfare group brings together individuals who contribute towards a welfare fund that seeks to help members uplift their general living standards. The participating members meet twice every month and give their contributions, the total of which is deposited in the fund and made available to members who would wish to borrow it as loans. External members of the group can also take loans from Star welfare group but their repayment is done at higher interest rates.

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2 Members of the group also make personal contributions to their colleagues who might, in one way or the other, have been incapacitated by such conditions as ailments, or bereavement from the loss of a close colleague. The aim is to enable a colleague cope up with such unwarranted conditions so that they may quickly recover and continue with their full participation to the group activities.

Office bearers are elected by members and serve for a defined period of 12 months, or one full calendar year, before elections are conducted again. The officials include group chairperson, secretary general, treasure, and their assistants. Operations of the group are conducted according to the guidelines stipulated in the constitution.

The group’s topic of interest Every human being anticipates that he or she may live a quality life that has very limited interference. People work hard on a daily basis to earn and use their earnings to better their lives.

However, it is difficult to achieve quality life and better one’s welfare without having proper planning in place. People need to save for the future and should also have easy access to financial power whenever they require it.

My learning process with the group My concrete experience in life is that there exist groups of people, some of whom lead better quality lives while others who tend to struggle all through to make ends meet. In my reflective observation, those with admirable lives often seem to be conscious of good planning.

People who struggle in life, on the other hand, simply lack a proper plan. If people can form groups that address their life problems in general, they will be able to change their lives for the better and have good quality life as they anticipate. Thus, people can pull their little resources together and use them to bridge the gap between what is anticipated and what is real or factual.

3 Group process used In order to ensure that Star welfare group succeeds in attaining its goal, structures and procedures were clearly defined. Members were required to follow the procedure and develop the mutual trust needed to realize cohesion. Different views were also integrated because people cannot always reason and think alike. Member’s commitment was also built towards the group so that it would be possible to attain collective responsibility.

This group process comprises of the formation stages which are very important in determining the group’s future, and also putting the right procedures for use in dealing with internal group problems.

Other incorporated theories The experiential learning concept has been utilized in understanding how Star welfare group operates. All the members in the group had a previous concrete experience which, after reflecting thoroughly and conceptualizing, saw the need to pull together and start a group which would be helpful in making them solve their problems.

The flow of the process The group managed to move according to its intended plans with very little limitations.

Members’ full commitment to the group was particularly vital in enabling the group to undertake its activities as planned with little deviations.

Feedback from the learning activity From constantly attending the group meetings and analyzing the common issues that members raised, I was able to learn how groups operate and manage to exist. One very vital factor that enables groups to remain strong and composed is the motivation that members get out of it. Members of any group will sustain their membership for as long as they are assured of a

4 positive outcome. When a group lacks motivation, members would not find any other concrete reason of coming together and pursuing its goals.

Alternative learning process I would employ I would consider changing groups so that I study a different group with varying concepts, goals and framework. I would wish to understand whether group modalities get affected when these variables are altered (Pelled 1996).

Conclusion Groups comprise of more than one person who join forces together for purposes of achieving a desirable goal. For groups to be able to function properly there must be leadership which is guided by a framework. Members must understand what their limits are and the extent of their leadership’s influence. Ordinary life situations compel people to form groups for purposes of making life easier. The learning experience which people encounter gradually makes them to discover the advantage of pulling forces together so that they can amass their capabilities and eventually make it easier to attain their objectives.

5 Reference List Pelled, LH 1996, ‘Demographic diversity, conflict, and work group outcomes: an intervening process theory’, Organization Science, Vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 615-631.