The professional development requirements of Workplace English Language and Literacy programme practitioners

• Summary
• Purpose
• Approach
• Research questions
• Methodology
• Organisations
• VOCED searches

Summary

Purpose

To determine the extent and nature of current professional development activities for WELL trainers.

To explore the changing nature of language and literacy training services in response to the changing needs of industry and to propose strategies that will ensure future professional development requirements of WELL trainers are able to be met.

Approach

Adult Literacy Research Project

Research questions

1. What is the extent and nature of professional development activities offered to and/or undertaken by WELL trainers currently?

2. What changes in the nature of WELL training services and the changing needs of industry are impacting, or are likely to impact, the competencies that WELL trainers are expected to demonstrate.

3. What competencies are WELL trainers expected to demonstrate now and in the next five years?

4. What competencies do WELL trainers have now?

5. What are the priority areas for the professional development of WELL trainers now and in the next five years?

Methodology

The methodology proposed for this research consists of an analysis of selected literature relating to the changing nature of work for VET professionals and what this literature says about the changing professional development needs of WELL trainers. It will also draw on a wider body of literature relating to the changing nature of work for the WELL target group and what this also says about the changing professional development needs of WELL trainers. This initial analysis will provide the context for the subsequent empirical data analysis.

The second phase of the research will involve the collection and analysis of interview data using open ended questionnaires from 45 WELL trainers across 15 training providers in Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.

Organisations

Linda Wyse & Associates (LWA) are organisational learning and communication specialists. Established in Melbourne in 1990, they have substantial experience and expertise in conducting research at state and national levels, curriculum advice, materials development and competency standards implementation. LWA is an RTO that has provided vocational training from entry level operatives through to management across a diverse range of industry sectors. A notable strength of the company is their use of a collaborative, team-based approach to project design, development and implementation. In their thirteen years of operation, the company has developed a reputation for successful completion and management of project work to timelines and within budget. This is achieved through careful planning and monitoring of project objectives and milestones. The consultants have been involved with the adult language, literacy and numeracy field for over 20 years. This has included teaching within a range of environments, developing curriculum and teaching resources and undertaking research projects ranging from grass roots action research to academic projects.

Manufacturing Learning Victoria (MLV) is the Victorian Training Advisory Board for manufacturing industries and has worked closely with trainers and teachers to assist in the development of strategies to work effectively in manufacturing industries and particularly in support of language, literacy and numeracy training. MLV has conducted professional development activities for workplace language literacy and numeracy trainers and teachers for the past seven years and has been funded by the Department of Education and Science and Tourism (DEST) in two consecutive two projects to work with companies and providers to assist in the access of Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) project support for manufacturing companies. MLV also works closely with the Adult and Community Education Sector (ACE) to identify opportunities for working with companies and the development of effective workplace programs.

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