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This paper discusses theorising and empirical work which proposes that the dispositions underpinning cognitive activity need to become more central to deliberations about how individuals think about and engage in skilful vocational practice. Such activity has consequences for how and what is learnt, as well as individuals’ ongoing development. Having reviewed ideas about the dispositional underpinnings of skilful knowledge, the paper reports a study examining how individuals construct knowledge associated with their vocational practice. This study provides tentative findings about the source of dispositions and their role in vocational activity. The paper concludes by advancing some implications for instruction. Show less

There are growing expectations that tertiary education graduates will be ready for working life, that is, possessing the capacities to participate effectively in an occupational practice in a specific work situation. Yet, graduates are often unprepared to fulfil this expectation. In response, tertiary education increasingly includes workplace experiences (i.e., practicums, internships, and work placements). It is necessary to understand these experiences' efficacy and their optimisation to promote work-life readiness. Drawing on students' experiences of internships, this paper discusses what constitutes the value of internships in post-secondary diploma courses in Singapore.

A quantitative analysis of interview data identified the contributions afforded through these experiences in workplaces - students' intentional engagement, and their readiness for working life. Central here is how these contributions promote the development of the adaptability required for effective participation in contemporary working life. The analysis identifies challenges including students' adapting to new work environments, navigating workplace practices, and developing occupational capacities. Workplace supervisors' and host educational institutions' support suggests interns' adaptability can be enhanced by promoting the relations between the support they received, on the one hand, and their engagement with challenges during internships, on the other. These findings offer an understanding about the experiences and outcomes of interns' learning through workplaces and offer implications for supporting and augmenting transitions into working life.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

This bulletin summarises the findings of a research project on how to improve the status of vocational education and training (VET) so that it can be viewed a more worthwhile and viable post-school option by both young people and those who influence their decision-making about post-school pathways. The relatively low status of VET and the occupations it serves is a significant impediment for realising VET's economic and employment goals. This status influences young people and parents' decision-making about post-school pathways, and government, community and employer support. In an era of high aspiration, VET is often seen as an option only for those unable to secure university entry. This perception can lead to mismatches amongst the kinds of skills young people are learning and employment opportunities, with what employers seek in employees, and potentially lengthy and sometimes unproductive tertiary education experiences.

Excerpts from publication. Show less

This article reports on a recent study which examined skilled workers’ perceptions about the characteristics of their work, and how they acquired and developed skills. Modes of acquiring vocational skills are varied. Some learners initially acquire their skills in formal learning settings, such as TAFE colleges, others acquire their skills in the workplace, whilst still others enjoy the integration of formal and workplace learning experiences.

In this article a view of learning that values the construction of knowledge through socio-cultural mediation is used to evaluate three common modes of skill acquisition. The significance of the authenticity of learning experiences and engaging learners in a culture of practice is emphasised within this study.

It is suggested that formal pre-employment modes of learning provide substitute experiences which may develop conceptual, procedural and dispositional knowledge that are not readily transferable to vocational practice. It is argued that access to authentic learning experiences be included within formal learning provisions. The on-the-job mode of situated learning which engages the learner in a culture of practice, is highly valued. However, not all work settings or situations are able to provide access to the conditions which maximise this approach to learning. Show less

This study carried out by the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) and Institute of Technology, Tallaght (ITT) documents the findings from a survey of numeracy/mathematics tutors working with adult learners in Ireland. In its broadest terms, the research set out to identify training needs/requirements among tutors providing numeracy tuition to adult learners in a number of settings nationally. The context for the research is the changing teaching and learning environment with its focus on: the use of technology in the classroom; real world focus driven by Project Maths and [Further Education and Training Awards Council] FETAC accreditation; labour force activation; assessment issues including FETAC accreditation at [National Framework of Qualifications] NFQ levels 1-4; and developments in teaching qualification requirements.

Excerpts from publication. Show less

Changing personal and societal sentiments about the status of vocational education and the occupations it serves requires information, education, action at societal and local levels and will, inevitably take time. With entrenched issues such as the standing of occupations and the education systems that they serve, it is more likely incremental and focused initiatives are required to bring about this change. It has been consistently identified that there are 'zones of influence' shaping young people's decision-making about postschool pathways. These zones comprise the aspirations and advice of parents, the intended and unintended press of schoolteachers, the views of peers and suggestions arising from within the community. Consequently, advising and shaping young people's decisions about postschool pathways, including an informed and impartial consideration of vocational education, are not restricted to those students alone. Instead, it is necessary that those comprising these zones of influence also need advice and information so that young people's decision-making can be supported by informed and impartial advice.

A series of workshops with teachers and administrators, and presentations to policy and practitioner groups were used to evaluate the findings from focus groups and interviews, and a national survey that are elements of an Australian study. Those events were directed to identify how key institutions of government, schooling, vocational education institutions and industry could work to shape these zones of influence in ways that promoted broader and more informed considerations about post-school pathways, including vocational education. This led to strategies that could be used to reshape and enhance the standing of vocational education as a worthwhile post-school pathway across these zones of influence. These strategies were proposed as being directed broadly to inform that decision-making, and that includes perspectives, aspirations and interests of school students, parents, teachers, other familiars and members of the community, who in different ways shaped those perspectives.

This chapter sets out some initiatives that might be enacted by government, schools, employers, and teachers to offer experiences and informed and impartial advice about potential post-school pathways through engaging with the zones of influence.

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Understanding what constitutes learning across working life and how negotiating worklife transitions can be best supported has never been more important for working age adults, their workplaces and communities. The kinds and frequencies of changes in occupational and workplace requirements have consequences for personal goals, workplace viability and communities' economic and social wellbeing. Hence, for both individual and societal purposes we need to elaborate the goals for and processes of that learning and what constitutes educative worklife experiences. Drawing on a three-phase investigation of adults' worklife learning the kinds and qualities of the educative experiences directly or indirectly guiding, supporting and extending individuals' learning and development are elaborated. This includes pathways of experiences across working life: personal curriculums. The paper reports and discusses the data from: (i) worklife narratives and follow-up interviews, and (ii) 18-month monitoring of work and learning of a cohort of workers. It furthers the case for viewing lifelong learning and lifelong education as being distinct and seperate phenomena, the interdependence among the contributions of adults, their educational experiences and those provided by their communities, leading to the explanatory concepts of personal curriculum and educative experiences to illuminate and elaborate learning and development across working life.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner.

Forthcoming article first published online 15 June 2023 by Taylor and Francis. Show less

The decisions that young people make about post-school pathways are becoming increasingly important because of implications for: (i) personal educational and employment trajectories and goals, (ii) allocation of educational resources, and (iii) meeting a range of community needs associated with the development of occupational capacities. Indeed, there is a growing and global concern that young people are disproportionately participating in higher education which comes at a cost to the level of participation in vocational education and the occupations it serves. This trend indicates a shift in young people's aspirations and their preference for post-school pathways. However, there are implications and outcomes arising from this decision-making, leading to calls in many countries to redress this shift in post-school preferences. There are distinct implications both for young people who have identified a preferred occupation and those who remain undecided about them and the consequences for post-school pathways. Yet, without an elaboration of the societal factors and personal practices shaping and influencing that decision-making, it is difficult to know how to redress that situation.

This review examines recent literature addressing the factors and practices shaping young people's decision-making about those pathways. It identifies a complex intertwining of societal (i.e., institutional) and personal factors shaping this decision-making. Although societal factors (e.g., [socioeconomic status] SES, location, gender) play important roles in this decision-making, it appears that the practices of parents, teachers and familiars are salient in this decision-making and, therefore, efforts to redress this issue. These findings suggest such practices need to be mediated by enhancing what is suggested by societal institutions (e.g., schools, government), familiars (teachers, parents) and more fully informing young people's decision-making.

Published abstract. Show less

This paper advances conceptual tentative bases for understanding workplace pedagogic practices. It proposes that whether arising through everyday work activities or guided learning in workplaces, learning is shaped by workplace participatory practices. This learning is held to be co-participative: the reciprocal process of how the workplace affords participation and therefore learning, and how individuals elect to engage with the work practice (Billett 2001b). In order to make a space to understand workplaces as learning environments, it is necessary for them to be discussed and conceptualised on their own terms. Describing learning through work as ‘informal’ is negative, imprecise and denies key premises about participation in and learning through work. Access to workplace activities and guidance, and the distribution of opportunities to participate are structured by workplace factors. Much of this structuring has been intentionally associated with the continuity of the work practice through participants’ learning. Workplace experiences (activities and interactions) are, therefore, not ‘ad hoc’ or ‘informal’, they are a product of the historical, cultural and situational factors that constitute the work practices and their enactment, and individuals’ engagement in those practices. These factors shape the activities, goals and interactions afforded by the work practice and how individuals construe and learn through them.

Excerpt from published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the changing relationships between Vocational Education and Training (VET) authorities and their clients (industry, enterprises, regions and individuals). It is suggested that the interests of some client groups are likely to conflict with wider national economic strategies as the prescriptive, regulatory practices based on a broad industry strategy are replaced by a decentralised model. For example the exigencies of short term enterprise level planning might contradict long term industry level strategy. On the other hand it is argued that the process of individuals furthering their personal goals, by its very nature, tends to contribute to the national investment in intellectual capital. The paper attempts to define a state of maturity in a VET system on the basis of the degree of mutual responsibility that exists between the various client groups and concludes with suggestions as to how the different groups might act to bring about this state of mutuality.

The volume of collected proceedings is indexed at TD/TNC 57.76; individual papers are indexed from TD/TNC 57.77 to TD/TNC 57.122. Show less