Individual Reflective Essay Project

This essay provides insights into the experience of conducting a workshop in the sports industry, focusing on cognitive learning and skill development. It discusses the importance of workshops in enriching knowledge and promoting learning. The essay also highlights the strategies used to engage the audience and the lessons learned from the workshop.

Individual Reflective
Essay Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................9
Books and Journal.......................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
The essay encompasses a clear insight about my experience of conducting a workshop so as to
influence the peer graduate audience towards their future careers and employability in sports
industry. It also focuses on highlighting the personal theories associated with the cognitive
learning and development of fellow peers in order to persuade the same to be centralised towards
capitalising the existing opportunities in the environment. The essay also incorporates various
tactics and strategies in order to promote learning and skill development among the students.
MAIN BODY
Workshops can be considered as one of the prominent mediums that has the ability to influence a
large majority of audience. They are participatory in nature and allows individuals to gain
understanding regarding numerous essential topics. In current scenario, workshops are a medium
that facilitates in enriching the participants knowledge and learning about important aspects and
issues in the environment (Nelson and Witte, 2017). Many big institutions across the globe
consider workshops as a prominent method to educate the individual in relation to the specific
areas. Workshops helps in encouraging the cognitive skill improvement and knowledge based
learning of the individuals. I was also given an opportunity to conduct a workshop related to
the employment opportunities and skill enhancement in sports industry. As we all know that
sports industry can be termed as an emerging industry that has numerous budding opportunities
relating to the employment of the individuals. Sports industry is coming up with various trends
that can help the students to focus and align their career prospects with the respective industry.
It was my first workshop and I wanted it to be the best one. I did an intensive research
about the sports industry and the the skills and learning that needs to be enhanced in order to
leverage forthcoming opportunities in the same. After conducting the specific research in relation
with the topic, I designed the workshop plan that needs to be followed while delivering the
workshop. I divided the workshop into segments or sections so as to be more precise in my
approach and be more impactful as well. I allotted a specific time limit to every section as I did
not wanted to run out of time and leave my workshop incomplete and in the middle of nowhere. I
assigned specific durations to my workshop segments so as to complete the entire workshop
within the time limit and have sometime for last minute interactions as well (Li and Liu, 2017). I
was very excited and determined to utilise this respective opportunity to express my viewpoint in

front of my peers effectively. My teachers and mentors in the university also helped in defining
the purpose and setting the specific goals in relation with the workshop. I also prepared myself
on how to answer the queries of the audience as to solve their concerns as well. I conducted the
workshop with sheer confidence and this helped me to deliver the message across the audience
fruitfully and impact-fully.
I observed that the audience was engaging with me and this built my motivation so as to
interact more effectively with them. I learned and derived various important learning and
experience4 from the delivery of this workshop. I learned the importance and need of
communication in order to enhance the degree of engagement among the target audience. The
workshop helped me to enhance my interaction and communicative skills as I got the opportunity
to have relevant and productive conversation with such a large set of audience. It taught me that
in order to influence and educated the audience about the relevant issues and topics it is
necessary to have good interaction abilities so as to put the points across effectively and more
precisely (Gaus, 2017). It was a learning experience for me as I learned the value and
importance of time management. While conducting the workshop there were sections which I
needed to cut short at that moment of time in order to give more weight-age to other more
relevant sections of the workshop. So I managed to do that quite effectively and I gained
experience about how to manage the time appropriately so as to give more time to the important
topics by reducing the time limit of general topics.
I prepared myself for the workshop by brushing up my communication skills as it is one
of the most effective skills in terms of delivering a workshop. I studied the topics that were
incorporated in my workshop effectively so as to gain a proper industry insight. I took additional
notes as well in order to remember some pointers in case I miss out on something during the
workshop. All of the above mentioned preparations helped me a lot while conducting my
workshop and enhancing my performance in the same. There prior preparation facilitated in my
workshop's relevancy and one major thing I derived from the experience of delivering the
workshop is the importance of capturing the interest of audience. It is very difficult for an orator
or a presenter to keep the audience engaging and to grab their attention. It takes a lot of effort to
enhance the audience interest towards the workshop. We can do this by adding quirky punches,
interesting sections, trending fun and grams so as to make the workshop fun and lively and to
eliminate boredom for the same (Eickhoff and De Costa, 2018).

I also added fun sections and elements in my workshop which facilitated in grabbing the
attention and interest of the audience effectively and efficiently. I have learned that it is
extremely necessary for individuals to voice out their feeling and opinions in relation to the
associated topic of the workshop in order to help the workshop to gradually move forward. If the
audience show no interest in the workshop and are not willing to participate with me in the
workshop, there will be no learning out come for me as well as for them. It also very important
for me to listen to the opinions of the audience and hear them out so as to provide necessary
answers and feedbacks to the same and help them to identify solutions to the necessary problems
of the audience investing their time in the workshop.
While delivering the workshop I also examined that we need to consider the size of the audience
as it provides assistance in designing the specific elements and parts of the workshop. It also
helps to design the activities that needs to be incorporated in the workshop. When I delivered my
workshop, I took into consideration the fact that I need to measure the audience and I need to
design my workshop in alignment of the same (Chamberlain and Mendoza, 2017). This in turn
helped me in conducting my workshop more productively and efficiently and there were no
wastage of time in between. I also planned a necessary break in my workshop as it is essential to
provide audience with some relaxation. Short breaks are considered to be necessary and vital
while conducting workshop as they provide some free time even to the individual conducting the
workshop. In this way, that individual also can relax and retrieve his/her energy again in order to
deliver his/her best potential.
I provided the audience and the participants with ample to time to discuss among
themselves and to interact with me as well. It is also important to be a little friendly with the
participants and audience so that they can relate with the individual conducting the event at a
personal level and be familiar with the same (Potts, 2018). I also tried to incorporate this quality
and tried my best to be friendly with my audience and make them more comfortable while
interactions. I provided energy drinks and biscuits to the participants in order increase their
assertiveness and attentiveness towards the workshop. It was a great idea as it helped us in
encouraging and sustaining the attention of the audience and participants throughout the
workshop. My workshop was activity based and involved various activities in my workshop
which fa ciliated in enhancing the skills and competencies of the audience engaged in the same.
There were topics that needed detailed explanation and understanding. Thus for those topics and

sections which required deep learning, I tried to emphasis over learning aspect and in order
execute other parts and sections of the workshop I relied on creative and innovative tasks and
activities (Purkayastha, 2019).
I provided time to the participants for raising the relevant questions related to the
workshop. There were participants who raised good questions and I tried my best to answer those
questions appropriately so as to satisfy the query of the participant efficaciously and make them
understand the concept effectively. I realised that this part of the workshop which involves
taking questions from the audience helps in analysing the impact of workshop on the
participants. The questions raised by them helped me to identify the degree of interest of the
participants in the respective workshop (Schmitt, Yogan and Johnson, 2018). I was grateful that
I got good and relevant questions from the audience side and it helped me to realise that I was
able to make a good and positive impact among the same.
After the workshop was over, I provided the audience with a feedback form regarding
their experience at the workshop. I did the same in order to examine the level of satisfaction of
audience towards my workshop. The overall feedback was really good and I am glad that the
participants enjoyed the workshop. Though there were some negative feedbacks as well but I
took them as constructive criticism and will try my best to overcome the same in the near future.
I learned that self confidence is extremely necessary for an individual in order to stand in front of
a large set of audience and direct them towards a concept and exhibit your views and thoughts
among the same. After this workshop, it can be said that I feel that mu motivation and passion
towards overcoming my fears and combat them effectively has increased. I am more interactive
within my peers and do not feel any fear of expressing my thoughts and opinions within the
same.
In order to make the workshop more impressive and factual, I incorporated Gibbs reflective
cycle with my workshop and the elements that I applied from the same are listed below :
Description : In this specific element, we have to determine and describe the event in particular
so as to give a brief regarding the type of event, the duration of event, the purpose and reason
behind conducting the event. In my case, the event was a workshop which was conducted in the
university premises so as to provide relevant information to the audience about the ways in
which they can enhance their careers in the sports industry.

Feelings : This element incorporates the feelings and emotions of an individual while delivering
the event. If I related this element to myself, I can say that I was feeling wonderful while leading
the workshop and making individuals aware about the scope in sports industry and the ways that
can help in the manifestation and achievement of the opportunity existing in the sports industry. I
was amazed by looking at the engagement and interaction levels at the workshop. After the
event got over, I felt a sense of achievement and pride that I was able to make an impact among
wide number of audience.
Evaluation : This is an element wherein we introspect and evaluate that how was the experience
of the particular event whether it can be considered good or bad. My experience while
conducting the workshop was very exhilarating and enchanting. I had the best time while
communicating with other individuals and getting to know their perspective and mindsets about
the industry and how would they like to approach their careers in the future. I was really happy
and fortunate to be a part of the amazing workshop and would like to participate more in these
kind of activities.
Analysis : This basically involves what all an individual has derived and learned from the
specific event. It involves the analyses of what an individuals has learned while being a
participant of the particular event. I also did the analysed my leaning outcome from the
workshop. One basic and most essential thing I learned was how to deal with different individual
coming from diverse cultures and societies and having different mindsets and opinions. It is
essential to understand different people in order to approach them effectively and make a good
impact among the same.
Conclusion : It is an element that requires us to judge our performance in the particular event
and identify what could we do in order to enhance the same. In my case, I was pretty satisfies
with my performance but there were certain areas where I need work in order to enhance my all
over performance in the forthcoming workshops. I feel need to focus on my interaction skills
more and be more flexible and spontaneous so as to deliver the workshop with more dedication
and precision in the near future.
Action Plan : In this specific element, we need to design and develop an action plan that
facilitates in enhancement and increment of the skills we need to acquire in order to enhance our
overall growth and personality. I developed an action plan wherein I promised myself to invest
my time in vocabulary building so as to better my speaking skills. I resorted to the same because

the next time I am at a workshop, I want to sound relevant and I do not want to be short of words
as I want to express myself more elaborately and effectively among a large number of gathering
( Zeer and Streltsov, 2016).
This opportunity has been one of the biggest for me as I learned different skills and
competencies that I could never learn if I did not take part in the workshop. It taught me how to
influence a group of people towards a path and how to keep them involved towards the same for
a time period.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it can be said that conducting a sports workshop is not an easy task
and the individual leading and presenting the workshop needs to deliver the top-quality
performance in order to move the workshop in a good direction and hold the attention of
participants engaged in the same. A lot of hard work and concentration needs to be exhibited so
as to conduct an excellent workshop. This opportunity helped me in acquisition of advanced and
creative skills and development. It boosted my self confidence and motivated me to not restrict
myself and capitalise on every possible opportunity.

REFRENCES
Books and Journal
Chamberlain, L. and Mendoza, S., 2017. Design thinking as research pedagogy for
undergraduates: Project-based learning with impact. Council on Undergraduate
Research Quarterly, 37(4), pp.18-23.
Eickhoff, L. and De Costa, P.I., 2018. Collaborative teaching reflection: insights into a
globalized partnership. ELT Journal, 72(2), pp.121-130.
Gaus, N., 2017. Selecting research approaches and research designs: A reflective
essay. Qualitative Research Journal.
Li, F. and Liu, Y., 2017. The impact of a cultural research course project on foreign language
students’ intercultural competence and language learning. Journal of Language
Teaching and Research, 8(1), pp.97-105.
Nelson, K. and Witte, J., 2017. The future of social justice in adult education: A gateway to
evolutionary change. A reflective essay. Dialogues in Social Justice: An adult education
Journal, 2(1), pp.15-17.
Potts, D., 2018. Critical praxis, design and reflection literacy: A lesson in multimodality.
In Bilingual learners and social equity (pp. 201-223). Springer, Cham.
Purkayastha, D., 2019. Designing and Deploying Case Studies in an Innovative Comic Book
Format: Reflective Essay for the Case ‘It’s Bank Policy’. South Asian Journal of
Business and Management Cases, 8(1), pp.11-26.
Schmitt, K.R.B., Yogan, L. and Johnson, A., 2018. Transformative learning in client based
research projects. Journal of Transformative Learning, 5(2).
Schneider, B., 2017. Second Reflective Essay Assignment.
Zeer, E.F. and Streltsov, A.V., 2016. Technological platform for realization of students’
individual educational trajectories in a vocational school. International Electronic
Journal of Mathematics Education, 11(7), pp.2639-2650.