A national action learning scheme for CBT practitioners

The scheme promotes the use of action learning in preparing staff for implementing competency based training (CBT) in the workplace. The areas addressed are staff training and development for the identification, design, delivery, and assessment of CBT within the National Vocational Education and Training System (NVETS). The scheme was necessitated by the highly decentralised and diversified nature of NVETS. As part of its rationale, the scheme questions the effectiveness of train-the-trainer methodology in terms of, for example, transferring benefits to each participant’s place of work.

The scheme’s action learning model has these characteristics:

(1) it is work based;

(2) it confronts reality, rather than simulating it off-the-job;

(3) it is group oriented and focuses on practical organisational issues and problems;

(4) it provides the individual with practical skills and personal growth and provides the employer with concrete results;

(5) it emphasises outcomes and improved performance;

(6) it encourages innovation and practical problem-solving by asking questions in conditions of risk and novelty;

(7) it deals with non-routine problems, such as the implementation of program change;

(8) it responds to the learner’s sense of independence, autonomy, experience, learning need, and achievement motivation;

(9) it can be adapted to a wide range of practical, problem-solving requirements of the workplace.

The scheme commenced as a pilot in 1993 and by 1997 will be integrated with all other national CBT initiatives.

The scheme promotes the use of action learning in preparing staff for implementing competency based training (CBT) in the workplace. The areas addressed are staff training and development for the identification, design, delivery, and assessment of CBT within the National Vocational Education and Training System (NVETS). The scheme was necessitated by the highly decentralised and diversified nature of NVETS. As part of its rationale, the scheme questions the effectiveness of train-the-trainer methodology in terms of, for example, transferring benefits to each participant’s place of ...  [+] Show more