Work in Progress
Mix or match? New Apprentices' learning styles and trainers' preferences for training in workplaces
Summary
- Item:
- 10230
- Title:
- Mix or match? New Apprentices' learning styles and trainers' preferences for training in workplaces
- Type:
- Managed research project
- Project no:
- NR3014
- Status:
- Finished
- Date commenced:
- 20 September 2003
- Contact:
- Roger Harris
- phone: +61 8 8302 6246
- email: roger.harris@unisa.edu.au
Purpose
The purpose of this research project is two-fold. Firstly, the research will identify: the learning preferences of a sample of VET students and the workplace trainer actions that assist these students to effectively engage in learning in the workplace that are linked to these preferences; the preferred teaching / training styles and the workplace trainer actions linked to these preferences for a group of workplace trainers
Secondly, the research will examine the extent to which students' preferred learning styles are taken into account by the actions of the trainers who are responsible for assisting them to learn in the workplace.
Approach
Quantitative and qualitative research, including detailed literature review and interviews with a sample of pairs / small groups of workplace trainers and VET students
Research questions
Using a sample of pairs / small groups of workplace trainers and VET students from across three occupational groups the following questions will be examined:
1. What are the preferred learning styles of this group of VET students?
2. What workplace trainer actions (developed in previous research) best fit with these preferred learning styles?
3. What are the preferred approaches to facilitating learning held by workplace trainers from across these occupational groups?
4. What workplace trainer actions best fit with these preferred approaches to facilitating learning?
5. How closely do the identified learning styles and preferred trainer actions match the identified preferred approaches to facilitating learning and actions adopted by the workplace trainers? What are the implications for any identified mismatches in relation to the quality of learning experiences provided to students?
6. What implications do these findings have for furthering our understanding of how to foster successful learning in the workplace?
Methodology
The research questions require the use of both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Data to identify the preferred learning / teaching preferences of students and workplace trainers will be collected using the Keirsey - Bates Temperament Inventory.
Data for this project will be gathered from 30 workplaces in NSW, ACT and SA and a minimum of 30 learners and their trainers (60 people in all). The inventory will be administered and interviews conducted with both workplace trainers and learners.
Sites for the study will be selected from workplaces located in the community services/health, manufacturing /engineering and wholesale/retail industries and to ensure that they encompass students completing a mix of different levels of VET qualifications.
Once each site has completed the inventory and interviews, the interview material will be transcribed, collated and returned to the persons who were interviewed for verification.
The data collected will be analysed to highlight key patterns and themes relating to the linkages between learner preferences / approaches to facilitating learning and trainer actions. In addition, each person participating will be offered their own results from the inventory along with information to assist them in interpreting the meaning of the outcomes in relation to their roles as learners or workplace trainers.
Organisations
This research is being jointly undertaken by the Centre for Research in Education, Equity and Work (CREEW) at the University of South Australia and the Centre Undertaking Research in Vocational Education (CURVE) at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT).
CREEW is a recognised and funded research centre within the University of South Australia. Its website at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/creew/index.htm lists previous projects undertaken which provide the grounding for this study based on the established networks and successful record in VET research developed by CREEW over time.
CURVE was established at CIT in 1999. CURVE concentrates on research into training delivery, with special emphasis on practice and practitioners. Key areas of research have included assessment, program evaluation, client satisfaction, flexible delivery, quality, partnerships, Training Packages and the VET professional. CURVE designs, conducts and reports on surveys into client satisfaction and community awareness on an annual basis. Its web site is at: http://www.cit.act.edu.au/about/research/centre
