Search Results | VOCEDplus, the international tertiary education and research database

Learning and training in school-based apprenticeships and traineeships

The number of young people commencing apprenticeships and traineeships whilst at school, and monitored by their sch ... Show more
The number of young people commencing apprenticeships and traineeships whilst at school, and monitored by their school, has grown considerably, encouraged by State and Federal governments, since the first participants began in 1997. There has as yet been little research into the nature of the training given to, and learning experienced by, such young people; most published literature has related to organisational issues. This paper reports on a research project funded by the National Research and Evaluation Committee [NREC] into learning and training in school-based new apprenticeships (SBNAs). A questionnaire was sent to a large sample of all SBNAs in three States: Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, using a survey instrument adapted from a previous NREC study, 'School students' learning from their paid and unpaid work' (report indexed at TD/TNC 68.01). The results present an overview of SBNA employment, training and learning practices which will provide an important basis for development of policy and practice in this area.
Published abstract.
The collection of papers is indexed at TD/TNC 73.601. Individual papers are indexed from TD/TNC 73.602 to TD/TNC 73.621. Show less

Authors: Smith, Erica; Wilson, Lou

Conference name: Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association Conference

Date: 2003

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Conference paper

Subjects: Vocational education and training; Apprenticeship; Traineeship ... [+] Show more
Best of 2020: highlights from Seasons 4 and 5

In 2020, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) invited expert vocational voices from the vo ... Show more
In 2020, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) invited expert vocational voices from the vocational education and training (VET) sector to share their views, stories, experiences and insights on a range of hot topics. This podcast is a roundup of interesting snippets and research findings from across the eight podcast episodes released during the year. Full of short and sharp insights from each of the guest speakers, it covers off some of the best bits of Seasons 4 and 5.
Edited abstract from publisher's website. Show less

Authors: Davis, Steve; Walker, Simon; Griffin, Tabatha; Shreeve, Robin ... [+] Show more

Date: 2020

Geographic subjects: Australia; Oceania

Resource type: Webinar or podcast

Series name: Vocational voices

Subjects: Vocational education and training; Providers of education and training; Skills and knowledge ... [+] Show more
Does competency-based training mean the end of teaching as we know it?

Funding was made available through the Australian National Training Authority Research Advisory Committee (ANTARAC) ... Show more
Funding was made available through the Australian National Training Authority Research Advisory Committee (ANTARAC) for a study into the effects of competency based training (CBT) and the associated practice of recognition of prior learning (RPL) on teaching and learning and on teachers’ roles. This paper describes some of the findings of the research project, carried out by Charles Sturt University’s Group for Research in Employment and Training (GREAT) in 1996. It concentrates on the effects of CBT on teachers and teaching and does not focus on the role of students and trainees. Show less

Authors: Smith, Erica

Conference name: International Conference on Post-Compulsory Education and Training

Date: 1997

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Conference paper

Subjects: Teaching and learning; Pathways; Vocational education and training ... [+] Show more
Pedagogical issues for training of mature-aged workers in manufacturing industry: report prepared for Manufacturing Skills Australia

Mature-aged workers are becoming increasingly important in all Australian workplaces. In a tight labour market, org ... Show more
Mature-aged workers are becoming increasingly important in all Australian workplaces. In a tight labour market, organisations need to retain workers well past the age at which in previous decades many workers began to think of retiring; and better health means that people are keen to keep working for longer. Increasingly competitive markets require organisations to encourage higher performance and flexibility from all workers meaning that job roles change and expand constantly, with concomitant training needs. Therefore it is imperative that the pedagogical issues associated with the training of mature-aged workers are examined closely. This project was commissioned to draw together existing knowledge about the training of mature-aged workers augmented by a limited amount of fieldwork in the Australian manufacturing industry.
Published introduction. Show less

Authors: Selby Smith, Chris; Smith, Andrew; Smith, Erica

Corporate authors: Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) ... [+] Show more

Date: 2007

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Subjects: Assessment; Industry; Research ... [+] Show more
A review of 20 years of competency-based training in the Australian vocational education and training system

In this paper, the author reflects, both as an academic researcher and as a senior practitioner, on the experience ... Show more
In this paper, the author reflects, both as an academic researcher and as a senior practitioner, on the experience of competency-based training (CBT) in the Australian vocational education and training system. She seeks to draw conclusions about the Australian experience using a typology drawn from the academic literature which focuses on the philosophical, educational, technical and market aspects of CBT. She concludes that, despite many improvements over the past ten years, some potential problems remain. The system is controlled overly tightly by the interests of industry and it also exhibits some inflexibilities. Both of these act to disadvantage some groups of learners. Teachers and trainers do not have adequate skills to work skilfully and critically with CBT, leading to thin pedagogy and a narrow focus on assessment of individual items of performance.
Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

Authors: Smith, Erica

Date: 2010

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Article

Journal title: International journal of training and development

Subjects: Vocational education and training; Teaching and learning
Self paced learning: a student perspective

Self paced learning (SPL), an alternative to face-to-face teaching, seen as being advantageous to students and thei ... Show more
Self paced learning (SPL), an alternative to face-to-face teaching, seen as being advantageous to students and their employers as well as being less-resource intensive, is becoming an increasingly common method of teaching in vocational education and training (VET). This article looks at SPL from a student viewpoint and is based on qualitative research examining experiences of SPL in Office Administration subjects of students from a non English speaking background or who have no regular access to computers. The paper provides information on the participants’ impressions of SPL, the advantages of SPL and the challenges experienced by the students. The findings indicate that although the majority of students showed enthusiasm for this mode of study, many students find this type of learning difficult. This was because of the inability of teachers to give adequate individual support and the lack of suitable preparation courses for students entering SPL for the first time. The authors suggest that these issues can be addressed by injecting further resources but that this would make SPL less attractive to VET providers who see it as a cost effective method of training. Show less

Authors: Inkson, Donna; Smith, Erica

Date: 2001

Resource type: Article

Journal title: Australian educational researcher

Subjects: Vocational education and training; Students; Language ... [+] Show more
Making choices: exploring influences on post-school career pathways

Research into school students and their experiences of the world of work, both during their school years and the fi ... Show more
Research into school students and their experiences of the world of work, both during their school years and the first few years post school, has offered some insights in to some of the factors influencing the decisions young people make about their career options and pathways. This paper will explore some of the data from a research project which in itself was a follow-up study to two previous projects, one with a range of school students and one with school-based new apprentices. While the study was designed to find out the effect of workplace experiences while at school on post-school pathways, qualitative findings suggest that each individual has a unique context, story and blend of circumstances which produce the individual's pathway. This is the focus of this paper. The research also offers some valuable insights into the types of experiences, guidance and support that young people could find more useful in terms of finding out more about work and study options and possibilities.
Published abstract.
Available papers from the 9th Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) Conference are indexed from TD/TNC 86.226 to TD/TNC 86.262. Show less

Authors: Green, Annette; Smith, Erica

Conference name: Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association Conference

Date: 2006

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Conference paper

Subjects: Youth; Apprenticeship; Pathways ... [+] Show more
The understandings about learners and learning that are imparted in Certificate IV level courses for VET teachers and trainers

Much of the literature on vocational education and training (VET) professional development for teachers and trainer ... Show more
Much of the literature on vocational education and training (VET) professional development for teachers and trainers in Australia has been descriptive, outlining the development, construction and outcomes of a range of initiatives or analysing the nature and extent of initial and on-going professional development for teachers and trainers. There has been little critical analysis of curricula which led to the attainment of what has been the most common Australian initial VET teacher/trainer qualification, the Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training (AWT), either in terms of the intended or enacted curricula as it was delivered in many hundreds of locations across Australia. This paper addresses this gap. It presents the outcomes of research that examined ways in which learners and processes of learning were constructed, understood and embedded in the delivery of the Certificate IV AWT. This qualification was delivered from 1998 until November 2006. In late 2004 a new Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA) was introduced, but there was a ‘teach-out period’ of two years on the old qualification. The study involved 16 case studies of registered training organisations that delivered the Certificate IV in AWT. The paper updates the study by examining how the changes associated with the new qualification may affect understandings of learners and learning.
Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

Authors: Simons, Michele; Smith, Erica

Date: 2008

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Article

Journal title: International journal of training research

Subjects: Assessment; Outcomes; Research ... [+] Show more
Qualifying the workforce: the use of nationally-recognised training in Australian companies

Purpose - To report on research that examines the impact of the adoption of nationally-recognised training by enter ... Show more
Purpose - To report on research that examines the impact of the adoption of nationally-recognised training by enterprises in Australia. Design/methodology/approach - The project involved a mix of methodologies including focus groups, employer survey and case studies. Findings - The research found that there had been a higher than expected adoption of nationally-recognised training by Australian enterprises in recent years and that enterprises were using training packages to support other human resource management activities apart from training. Research limitations/implications - The case studies were confined to four industry areas of hospitality, manufacturing, arts/media and call centres. Originality/value - This paper fills a significant gap in the research literature on the use that enterprises make of nationally-recognised training.
Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

Authors: Smith, Erica; Smith, Andrew; Pickersgill, Richard; Rushbrook, Peter

Date: 2006

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Article

Journal title: Journal of European industrial training

Subjects: Workforce development; Skills and knowledge; Research ... [+] Show more
Gaining acceptance for accredited training for university staff

Many enterprises within Australia have become registered training organisations [RTOs], or work very closely with R ... Show more
Many enterprises within Australia have become registered training organisations [RTOs], or work very closely with RTOs, to deliver nationally-accredited training to their workers. Universities are major employers, yet relatively few are taking advantage of accredited training opportunities. This paper reports on the experience of a regional university's initial activity as an enterprise RTO. In so doing, it reflects on academic attitudes to competency-based training, traditional university staff development attitudes and practices, the 'who pays' debate, and the organisational implications of the presence of an RTO within an enterprise.
Published abstract.
The collection of refereed papers is indexed at TD/TNC 73.622; individual refereed papers are indexed from TD/TNC 73.623 to TD/TNC 73.650. The collection of non refereed papers is indexed at TD/TNC 73.651; non-refereed papers are indexed from TD/TNC 73.652 to TD/TNC 73.680. Show less

Authors: Smith, Erica; Pickersgill, Richard

Conference name: Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association Conference

Date: 2003

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Conference paper

Subjects: Higher education; Workforce development; Vocational education and training ... [+] Show more