The challenge to create learning environments that could promote learning is an aspect which currently enjoys much attention in the higher education environment. According to the outcomes based approach, learners are required to be equipped with relevant and applicable skills when entering the workforce on completion of their studies. With this as background, this study investigated the applicability of experiential learning as an approach that could enable learners to make optimal use of changing learning environments. Experiential learning mainly takes place through learners’ exposure to concrete experiences which are then critically reflected upon. The concept of action learning is often used as synonym for experiential learning, as the principles underlying these concepts and the philosophical assumptions are the same. Service learning is an application field of experiential learning that differs from the traditional learning approach. Learners learn from their exposure to learning experiences, whereas service rendering takes place simultaneously. In this study attention will be paid to the importance of reflection in the learning process. On completion of the learning experience learners critically investigate their own values, preconceptions, insights they have gained in the process and actions. The reflective learning process gives learners the opportunity to monitor their own learning objectives, to enhance insight and understanding and observe the interaction between theory and practice. In addition to this the process allows them to optimise human potential by applying what they have learned. According to the process followed in this study, learners have developed and implemented certain psycho-social interventions in collaboration with a specific community. At the start of the process learners were requested to keep their dairies up to date and use these to reflect on any aspect of their learning experience. With the consent of the learners a quantitative analysis was done of the content of their dairies and certain themes have manifested. The main themes that have been identified refer to the experiences during the development and implementation of the intervention and these relate mainly to the learning facilitator. Initially learners were quite dependent on familiar structures but once they became more at ease with the process, they were able to observe and manage the process with greater freedom. One aspect that is prominent in this study is the significance of group processes - not only for the individual learner, but also as part of the greater environment. Learners were specifically challenged to manage the unpredictability of the various processes – something which has required greater adaptability and leniency of learners. Learners’ reflections on the achievement of learning outcomes centre on opportunities to practically apply their theoretical knowledge. In many learners the interaction between theory and practice has resulted in the expansion of their cognitive content. Many references were also made to the improvement of life skills which relate specifically to the group processes and personal enrichment. A reflective attitude in a learning environment facilitates opportunities for learners to build on their current knowledge and develop a greater emotive conscience of the various processes and people involved in the learning environment. In addition to this individual life skills can also become more prominent. Reflection on learning experiences is a critical component by which learners could make sense of their experiences and apply their knowledge, emphasise the greater environment and support the interaction between people and the self as part of the learning process. / Dissertation (MA (Research Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Psychology / unrestricted

Die doel van die verkennende en beskrywende studie was om die bruikbaarheid van liggaamsportrette vir kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasilitering te ondersoek. Met interpretivisme as metateoretiese paradigma en Savickas se lewensontwerp benadering as teoretiese raamwerk is ʼn gerieflikheidseleksie van bestaande databronne gedoen vir die inhoudsanalise-studie. Die databronne (assesserings- en intervensiebeplanning, reflektiewe joernale van die terapeut en portuur-supervisor, foto’s en oudio-visuele opnames as visuele data, transkripsies van oudiovisuele opnames en assesseringsnotas van supervisor) is saam met agt siSwati Graad 9-seuns gegenereer tydens ʼn akademiese diensleer-praktikum by ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool as deel van die 2009-MEd (Opvoedkundige Sielkunde) opleiding. Twee temas met bepaalde subtemas was die gevolg van analise aan die hand van a priori aannames wat verkry is uit kruis-kulturele sielkunde en loopbaanfasilitering-literatuur. Die eerste tema hou verband met die teenwoordigheid van kruis-kulturele sielkunde tydens die liggaamsportret-sessie, met die volgende subtemas: kruis-kulturele bekwaamhede van die terapeut, effektiewe kommunikasiestyle in die kruis-kulturele konteks, en geleenthede vir kruis-kulturele bekwaamheid. Die tweede tema hou verband met die teenwoordigheid van lewensontwerp tydens die kruis-kulturele sielkundige praktyk in ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool, met die volgende subtemas: loopbaanfasiliteringsvaardighede van die terapeut, loopbaanfasiliteringsmomente vir die kliënt, en lewensontwerp as loopbaanfasiliteringstegniek. Uit die studie blyk dit dat die liggaamsportret-tegniek bruikbaar is vir kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasilitering met Graad 9-seuns in ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool. Die liggaamsportret-tegniek was bevredigend in die kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasiliteringskonteks aangesien die terapeut assesseringsresultate kon integreer, kruis-kulturele bekwaamhede kon implementeer om adolessente seuns aktief te betrek en kontekstuele inligting van kliënte kon verkry. Verder was die tegniek bevredigend aangesien kliënte aan die hand van lewensontwerp loopbaanfasiliteringsvaardighede kon inoefen; naamlik beroepsverkenning, selfkennisverkenning, self-werksaamheid, loopbaandoelwitstelling, loopbaanaanpasbaarheid, uitkoms-verwagtinge, en die gebruik van beroepsinligting. Die liggaamsporttret-tegniek was prakties in die kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasiliteringskonteks deurdat dit aangepas het by die adolessente seuns se ontwikkelingsfase, hulle aktief betrek het en nie-verbale kommunikasie geredelik gehuisves het. Die tegniek was derhalwe geskik vir gebruik in ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool omgewing met beperkte hulpbronne deur van maklik bekombare hulpbronne (papier, potlode, penne, verf, klippies) gebruik te maak. Die liggaamsporttret-tegniek was toepaslik in die kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasiliteringskonteks aangesien beide verbale (ʼn tolk) en nie-verbale (toepaslike gesigsuitdrukkings en interpersoonlike spasies) kommunikasie geakkommodeer is om taalhindernisse te oorbrug. Vir hierdie doel het die tegniek ruimte geskep vir individuele en groepsloopbaanfasilitering, en kon ander narratiewe en post-moderne aktiwiteite (soos beroepsleiding-kaartsortering en beroepskennis-werkkaarte) deel vorm van loopbaanfasilitering vir die konstruering van die kliënte se lewens. ENGLISH : The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the utility of body-maps for cross-cultural career facilitation. With interpretivism as a metatheoretical paradigm and Savickas’ life design approach as a theoretical framework, data sources where collected through convenience sampling for this content analysis study. The data sources (assessment- and intervention planning, reflective journals of the therapist and peer group supervisor, photograph’s and audio-visual recordings as visual data, transcriptions from audio-visual recordings and assessment notes from the supervisor) were generated in collaboration with eight Grade 9 siSwati speaking boys during an academic service learning practicum at a rural secondary school as part of the 2009-MEd (Educational Psychology) training. Guided by a priori assumptions (based on cross-cultural psychology and career facilitation literature) two themes with sub-themes each resulted from the content analysis. The presence of cross-cultural psychology during the body-mapping session was established with instances of, the therapist’s cross-cultural competencies, effective communication styles in a cross-cultural context and opportunities for cross-cultural competencies to develop. Secondly the presence of life design during cross-cultural psychological practise in a rural, secondary school was determined, indicating the presence of career facilitation skills of the therapist, career facilitation moments for the client, and life design as a career facilitation technique. It was apparent that body-mapping has utility for cross-cultural career facilitation with Grade 9 boys from a rural secondary school. Body-mapping was satisfactory in a cross-cultural career facilitation context as the therapist could integrate the assessment results, implement cross-cultural competencies to engage adolescent boys in active participation, and obtain contextual information on clients. Clients were able to rehearse career facilitation skills (career exploration, gaining self knowledge, self-efficacy, career goal setting, career adaptability, outcome expectations and using career information) as part of life design. The body-map technique was practical in a cross-cultural career facilitation context because it suited the developmental phase of adolescent boys, actively involving them and accommodated non-verbal communication. The technique was well matched to a rural secondary school environment with limited resources, using easily accessible resources (paper, pencils, pens, paint and stones). The technique was applicable in a cross-cultural career facilitation context as language barriers could be addressed by means of verbal (a translator) and non-verbal (appropriate facial expressions and interpersonal space) communication. For this purpose, the body-mapping technique could be used on individual or group basis, and other narrative and post-modern activities (vocational card sorting and career knowledge worksheets) could form part of career facilitation and could be used in combination for constructing clients’ lives. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted