Lynch, Joanne (2024) From periphery to core: exploring experiential learning in business education through the lens of signature pedagogies. Doctor of Education thesis, Dublin City University.
Abstract
In business education, experiential learning (EL) is an increasingly common teaching
approach, and it is strongly endorsed as a core pedagogy by leading business school
accreditation bodies. EL theory posits that learning is enhanced when students engage in
reflective problem-solving by connecting theories and knowledge to real-world experience
(Young et al., 2008). It is this ability to bridge the theory-practice gap that makes the pedagogy
particularly attractive to business educators, as it allows learners to engage in authentic tasks
that mirror the professional practices they will need in their future careers. EL has the
potential to be a powerful pedagogical approach, but studies suggest that the practical
implementation of this theory is challenging for educators and that the effective learning
impact of the pedagogy cannot be achieved without opportunities for reflection on the
experience (Perusso et al., 2019). Using the lens of signature pedagogies (Shulman, 2005a),
this thesis explores business educators’ experiences of using EL approaches across a range of
disciplines in one business school. Signature pedagogies provides a research framework to
explore not only the surface acts of teaching using EL but also the deep and implicit
assumptions about discipline knowledge and values that underpin educators’ pedagogical
choices, thus influencing learners’ professional formation. Using an exploratory case study
design, 36 interviews were conducted to explore educators’ implementation of experiential
learning and their perspectives on the benefits and limitations of the approach. The findings
provide evidence of extensive and creative use of EL in business education. However, the data
also indicate that the approach imposes significant demands on educators’ pedagogical
competence, time commitment and access to resources. Using EL approaches with large
undergraduate classes emerges as a particular challenge. In addition, critical reflection on the
process of applying a signature pedagogy lens to the evaluation of EL as a core pedagogy in
business education has provided significant insights and recommendations to researchers
and educators are provided.
Metadata
Item Type: | Thesis (Doctor of Education) |
---|---|
Date of Award: | March 2024 |
Refereed: | No |
Supervisor(s): | Lysaght, Zita and Lorenza, Francesca |
Subjects: | Business > Organizational learning Business > Innovation Social Sciences > Adult education Social Sciences > Education Social Sciences > Teaching |
DCU Faculties and Centres: | DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education > School of Policy & Practice |
Use License: | This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. View License |
ID Code: | 29421 |
Deposited On: | 26 Mar 2024 09:38 by Zita Lysaght . Last Modified 04 Apr 2024 09:34 |
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