Academic literature on the topic 'Apprenticeship training programs'

AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Gayla Stoner, for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education degree, presented on May 16, 2015, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: INSTRUCTORS' PERCEPTIONS OF ONLINE INSTRUCTION WITHIN REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Barbara Hagler This qualitative study explored the perceptions of instructor use of online instruction within Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). The study concentrated on experienced instructors within a RAP that is part of a long-term, well-established trade union located in a major metropolitan area in the Midwestern United States. This study was informed by the methodology of a constructivist case study, which included the following methods: document review, expert panel, and in-depth interviews. Swan, Garrison, and Richardson's (2009) process-oriented model of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) with a constructivist approach served as the conceptual framework to inform this study. The purpose of this study was to contribute to the body of knowledge of online instruction within RAPs. The focus of this research study described (a) how RAP instructors perceive online instruction, (b) how their perceptions might impact the learning experiences of adult learners, and (c) how the perception of online learning may be improved among such instructors. The Office of Apprenticeship, which is within U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA), recently revised regulations that now encourage the integration of technology-enhanced training into RAPs. Specifically, on October 29, 2008, the ETA, through its Office of Apprenticeship, exercised its statutory authority under the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937 and promulgated the first revision in more than 30 years to its longstanding regulatory rubric governing RAPs (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29, Part 29) (Labor, 2008). These revisions, published in Title 29, Part 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR Part 29), embrace the use of "electronic media," including "interactive distance learning," as permissible instructional vehicles for the technical training of RAP-enrolled apprentices (Labor, 2008). As a result of the revision of 29 CFR Part 29, RAPs now have the option to augment their formal training programs with non-traditional instructional modalities for the benefit of both apprentice-sponsoring employers and enrolled apprentices. Interviewee quotes are used throughout the study to illustrate the range of interviewee opinion and to support conclusions. These findings may enable the instructor to provide quality instruction by demonstrating the elements of presence described in the CoI process-oriented model. In addition, my findings indicated there is evidence of a CoI process-oriented model that helps facilitate quality online learning within this specific RAP. I also discovered that RAP instructors recognize and encourage the benefits of online instruction for the apprentice, which includes (a) increased training opportunities and (b) the ability to maintain adult lifestyles. Additionally, instructors serve as mentors for the apprentice by providing guidance and opportunities in regard to achieving their educational goals. Also, I found that perceptions of online learning will continue to improve through the ongoing support provided by the RAP. Support includes technology-based workshops and pedagogical-based professional development opportunities. Finally, RAP instructors must continue to be educated on the advantages online instruction can bring to the self-directed apprentice. Primary conclusions from the study are the revelation of a strong community establishment within this specific RAP. This community of learners support the apprentice's ability to contribute positively to the workforce through the attainment of educational goals. In addition, RAP instructors take ownership of the responsibility to provide flexible educational offerings to the apprentice. These offerings include the delivery of quality courses that result in the benefits gained through online instruction. Also, instructor support of resources must continue to remain a priority for the RAP. Finally, I concluded that the self-directed apprentice has similar attributes as the ideal online learner. Flowing from the study's conclusions are several recommendations for this specific RAP, as well as the Employment and Training Administration. My recommendations include the suggestions for online lifelong learning and professional development course offerings, as well as the comparison of the learning outcomes of apprentices based on delivery modes. I recommended assessments and evaluations or online program evaluation in RAPs. Also, I recommended instructor creation of a mechanism for evaluating the quality of online instruction within RAPs. I recommended that RAPs continue to consider additional paths for sustainable funding. Additionally, I recommended that RAP instructors should receive more knowledge and application training in regard to the utilization of the process-oriented model theoretical framework of the Community of Inquiry. Finally, I recommended the creation of a national advisory sub-committee to serve the Federal Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship. The sub-committee would be charged with the purpose of understanding and disseminating educational and technological instruction to enhance RAPs.

Bibliography: pages 107-120.<br>This thesis explores the decline and transmutation of the apprenticeship system in South Africa, specifically as it occurred in the metal and engineering industry. It proceeds to analyse the most basic and influential imperatives which have driven this process. On the side of capital, these imperatives were the inexorable motive for a profit driven industrial organisation and on the side of organised labour, the imperatives to protect skills, jobs and wages. The existence of the one set of imperatives presupposed the need to redefine the existence of the other set. These contradictory imperatives have shaped the trajectory of the apprenticeship system in South Africa. They were contradictory because the one was an impediment on the untrammelled extension of the other. However, as the imperative of profit maximisation gradually became the predominant consideration in the relationship, it began to exert greater pressure on the character of the apprenticeship system. Within the apprenticeship training system, the imperative of profit maximization prioritised price calculation as the dominant consideration by which decisions and trajectories were chartered. Since the state mediated the relationship between the various economic interests in society, its interventions merely curtailed a more rapid consolidation of the effects of a profit driven industrial organisational imperative, within the apprenticeship training system. The triumph of the profit maximization imperative, systematically eroded the system of apprenticeship training in the metal and engineering industry of South Africa. An institutional inertia within the South African state resulted in the manifestation of erosive effects within institutions of the state empowered with governing and managing human resources development. This institutional inertia within the state was an accompaniment to the broader erosion of the apprenticeship training system at the workplace.

This study survey all ROP's in the State. It determined the degree to which the ROP's were meeting the changing need for enhancing and utilization vocation educational programs to meet the mandates of ̲S̲ec̲oṉḏ ṯ̲o Ṉ̲oṉ̲e.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.<br>In South Africa the government, industry and communities have placed pressure on Higher Education Institutions to deal with general skills shortage: whilst they prepare students to meet requirements and standards which industry expects. Universities of Technology are empowering students with theory, combining it with practical experience to generate graduates that are ready to meet industry’s demands and professional expectations. However, it has not proved easy to place students.The researcher has attempted to establish from companies the reasons the challenges and barriers posed during the Work Integrated Learning process. Work-Integrated Learning is important in bridging the gap between graduate attributes and industry expectations and the significant role that it plays in bridging the gap between graduate attributes and industry expectations. The workplace is a source of learning for students.The feedback from industry supervisors should be seen as an integral part of assessing students’ readiness for the world of work. The purpose of this research is to ascertain how managers deal with students during the Work-Integrated Learning period.The results of the study create foundation for future developments and research. It will also inform the development of an effective and innovative Work-Integrated Learning curriculum that is more supportive academically, and that encourages professional excellence and produces work-ready graduates. A qualitative research method was used in the study. Fifteen financial services managers from different companies were individually interviewed. Ethical approval for the study was sought and obtained. The results demonstrated that the managers experienced mixed feelings regarding their experience when supervising students in their respective companies. A closer examination of the managers’ responses, however, revealed that they had high expectations of students that participated in WIL, coupled with the quality of training provided by the Higher Education Institutions. These expectations include the following: effective time management, especially when reporting for work; regular attendance and team work, good and effective communication between company and the hosting university; and for WIL students to work independently, were all regarded as important.Although some managers had positive experiences of supervising students, there were those that expressed concerns about students’ levels of work readiness, as some indicated that students lacked self-confidence, while others raised concerns about students’ attitudes and lack of work ethics. It is recommended that the WIL programme should include activities that will enhance students’ confidence, independence and work-effectiveness. A collaborative effort should be made between various stakeholders that are involved in WIL: The need to give feedback to students on a full range of skills and competencies in the workplace, has not been extensively studied; hence an attempt by the researcher to establish some of the industry managers’ experiences in this regard.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Democratic South African government inaugurated in 1994 identified the need for intermediate skills that are required to contribute to the growth of the economy and to reduce the high unemployment rate. Further Education and Training Colleges (FETC) were established after 1994 by merging the former 152 technical colleges into 50 FETCs. The function of these FETCs was to offer intermediate skills to the youth, women, and employed and unemployed South Africans. The South African government introduced a number of strategies, Acts and policies to support the colleges and to implement demand-driven intermediate skills programmes which would close the skills gap and improve the growth of the economy. These policies seek to ensure that skills offered at colleges are aligned to the needs of industry and to make sure that the college programmes will be in demand in the work place. The study presented is aimed at investigating this alignment by evaluating how apprentices in the final stage of their vocational training perform and meet the demands at their work places. A number of strategies used by different countries to support and develop their education systems are discussed. The discussion is directed at considering how vocational education ensures a positive contribution to skills development and what its impact is on the growth of the economy. This study provides a comprehensive policy and legislative framework which governs and supports the higher education institutions and the FETCs. The study was designed to determine whether welding apprentices from the College are, according to the work place staff and management and stakeholder bodies, appropriately equipped with vocational skills and knowledge to execute their duties at the work place. The evaluation and analysis of the data extracted from the responses of the interviews and questionnaires are presented and discussed. The results enabled the researcher to conclude that the evaluation of apprentice performance at the work place provides significant insight into the question of how vocational training and knowledge at the WCFETC meet the demands at the work place. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations are made.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die demokratiese Suid-Afrikaanse Regering, wat in 1994 ingehuldig is, het die behoefte aan intermediêre vaardighede om die groei van die ekonomie en die van die hoë werkloosheidssyfer te verlig, geïdentifiseer. Verdere Onderwys en Opleiding Kolleges (VOOKS) is na 1994 totstand gebring deur die samesmelting van 152 voormalige Tegniese kolleges tot 50 VOOKS. Die funksie van die Verdere Onderwys en Opleiding Kolleges was om intermediêre vaardighede aan die jeug, vrouens en Suid-Afrikaners in diens of werkloos, te verskaf. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Regering het ´n aantal strategieë, wette en beleidsrigtings aangeneem om die kolleges te ondersteun en om die aanvraag-gedrewe intermediêre vaardigheidsprogramme te implementeer wat dan die vaardigheidsgaping sou vernou en die groei van die ekonomie sou bevorder. Hierdie beleidsrigting beoog om te verseker dat vaardighede wat by die Kolleges aangebied word, belyn is met die industrie as ook om te verseker dat die kollege programme benodig word in die werksplek. Die studie is gemik daarop om hierdie belyning te ondersoek en te evalueer hoe vakleerlinge in die laaste stadium van hulle ambagsopleiding vaar, en voldoen aan die eise van die werksplek. ´n Aantal strategieë wat deur verskillende lande gebruik word, om hulle eie opvoedingsstelsels te ontwikkel, word bespreek. Die bespreking verwys na hoe ambagsopvoeding ´n toevoeging tot vaardigheidsontwikkeling kan verseker en wat die impak daarvan op die groei van die ekonomie het. ´n Alomvattende beleid en ´n wetsraamwerk, wat Hoër OpvoedingsInstansies en die Verdere Onderwys en Opleiding Kolleges beheer en ondersteun, word verskaf. Die studie is ontwerp om te bepaal of die sweis vakleerlinge van die kollege, volgens die werksplek personeel en -bestuur en belanghebbende liggame, toepaslik toegerus en bevoeg is met ambagsvaardighede en kennis om die pligte van die werksplek uit te voer. Die evaluering en analise van die data, afgelei van die terugvoering van die onderhoude en vraelyste, word weergegee en voledig bespreek. Die resultate stel die navorser in staat om tot die gevolgtrekking te kom dat die evaluering van vakleerling-werksverrigting by die werksplek merkbare insig tot die vraag hoe ambagsopleiding en kennis by die Weskus VOOK aan die eise van die werksplek voldoen. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings word aangebied.

<p>This ex post facto comparison study of a postsecondary apprenticeship program at a naval ship construction company examined 8 years of academic performance and program completion data for two curricular formats: a 15-week traditional group (1,259 apprentices) and a 10-week accelerated group (736 apprentices). The two groups were investigated to determine if there were significant differences in retention, course grades, and overall GPA between the two curriculum lengths. A chi-square test for association between groups and retention found a statistically significant relationship between retention and curriculum length, &chi;2 (1, <i>N</i> = 1,995) = 65.84, <i> p</i> &lt; .001, with retention greater for the 10-week curriculum. Six of 12 accelerated courses had higher grades (descriptively) than the corresponding traditional 15-week courses, and 4 of 12 accelerated 10-week courses had significantly higher grades (statistically) than the corresponding traditional 15-week courses. The overall GPA for completers was significantly higher for the 10-week curriculum (<i>n</i> = 474, <i>M</i> = 3.02, <i> SD</i> = .79) than for the 15-week curriculum (<i>n</i> = 862, <i> M</i>= 2.83, <i>SD</i> = .81), <i>t</i> (994) = -4.16, <i> p</i> &lt; .001, <i>d</i> = - 0.26. This study has added to the limited body of literature on apprenticeship studies and workforce development by exploring how apprenticeship programs can be accelerated to transform inexperienced skilled labor into a high-performance workforce with a general increase in academic performance. </p>

This thesis describes and analyses vocational learning in school and workplaces, particularly the vocational learning involved in becoming a construction worker in Sweden. This includes learning the trade in upper secondary school education and a subsequent apprenticeship. An underlying argument is that activities in these contexts enable a diverse vocational learning outcome. However, there are potential tensions and contradictions, especially between production- and education-oriented aspects of the learning activities in these settings. To address these and associated issues, two research questions were posed. First, how do work-based activities enable vocational learning? Second, what forms of learning are enabled in school and work life settings and how are these forms of learning constituted? These questions were addressed using information drawn from observations, interviews and a survey. Analyses of the data, using a theoretical framework based on activity and forms of learning theory, show that the school and workplace settings enable different types of learning that form a joint constructed object. Further, the contexts provide diverse tasks that, with guidance from more experienced persons, can enhance the learning outcomes. So, vocational learning is enabled through tensions in the activity systems that form a learning outcome. In project-based vocational education and training (PBVET) provided in upper secondary school, vocational learning is enabled through basic training and opportunities to learn key techniques. In subsequent apprenticeships, the transformation of basic knowledge into specialized knowledge is enabled through close guidance and by the apprentices performing complex tasks. There are also clear differences in the freedom allowed in the performance of tasks between the PBVET and apprenticeships. The PBVET does not allow students to develop and apply their own solutions, while apprentices are encouraged to discover and implement solutions that enhance the performance of tasks. So, different forms of learning are enabled in the two contexts; the PBVET largely promotes reproductive learning and the apprenticeships largely promote productive learning. Scope for improvement was detected, as the PBVET does not appear to provide knowledge that fully meets criteria in the syllabuses, and the apprenticeship does not fully meet the learners’ educational needs. However, the settings provide complementary vocational learning opportunities. Thus, tensions and contradictions can be identified in the activity systems in the school and workplace settings that collectively form the boundaries of a learning outcome that largely corresponds to what the learners need to know and (hence) become construction workers.

Magister Educationis - Med<br>The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of a Literacy Intervention Programme with Grade One isiXhosa speaking learners in one primary school in the Western Cape. The study was motivated by the persisting low literacy levels in the Foundation Phase which have been reported in the Annual National Assessment (ANA) reports since 2011. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Provincial Departments of Education have designed many intervention programmes to assist teachers in teaching literacy to young learners. These programmes include teacher development workshops and the supply of literacy materials in schools. Schools also have their own intervention programmes to support learners who struggle with reading and writing. Despite these efforts, there is no significant improvement in learners' literacy levels. Therefore, this study investigated how the literacy intervention programme for Grade one was implemented in one township school in Cape Town.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:35:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2701.pdf: 1987535 bytes, checksum: 1b4c4e5cc9e629107f4af21c27b509c6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-10-30<br>Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais<br>This research tries to understand the contributions of an online continuous formation Program, aiming at the professional development of formers working with basic education, supported by the theoretic-methodological reference of professional practice epistemology and distance education. Thematics such as teachers formation and distance education were examined, more specifically the online education , for considering the distance education strategy, linked to information and communication technologies (ICT), a way to conceive new opportunities for the professional development, viewing school as the formation process center references were form Shulman, 1986, 1987; Pérez Gómez, 1989; Zeichner, 1993, 2008; Knowles and Cole, 1995; Tardif, 2000, 2002; Prado and Valente, 2002; Almeida, 2003, 2005; Mizukami et al, 2003; Moran, 2003; Vaillant, 2003; Schlemmer, 2005; Vaillant and Marcelo, 2006; Hunt, 2008. The methodology used was based on the constructive collaborative pattern of research-intervention, [Cole and Knowles, 1993; Mizukami et al, 2003] linked to qualitative research theoretical matrix [Bogdan and Bicklen, 1994; Lüdke and André, 1986]. The intervention research was characterized by an online professional development Program, in the digital learning environment of the UFSCar Teachers Portal, with the participation of sixteen formers working with basic education and two researches acting as the Program mediators. The analyses were draw out from the formers reports in varied activities, such as debates occurred throughout the formative processes, private messages (mail) and testimonies that produced the formers reflexive memorial at the end of the Program. The results try to clear up aspects related to the work configuration during time spent in the learning digital situation, indicating different moments by which formers passed by in this professional development process and through the building-up of confidence relation ships, when doubts, anguishes, fears, certitudes and convictions that orientate their practices start to be explicit collectively, offering the opportunity of thinking in and about the practice from a sharing glance, allowing then the no-knowing explicit and the possibility of negotiating and explicit senses to become a former in basic education. Such dynamics happened because of the researchers continuous presence, which helped to approximate formers and to create affective bonds, which assume in the digital context a more complex dimension, related to subjective questions, due to thought expression and communication based on writing. Besides, results showed traces of how the formers knowledge changed during the process, from the concepts they have about their profession and the meaning of being a former, and relationships set up with the school partners, the theoretical discussions about how to teach teachers to teach, the possibilities of keeping on learning despite the adversities of their profession and the function/charge they occupy. Therein, it is possible to understand this researchintervention as an investigation that passes through the formation universe of online education and professional practice, that bring together results that amplify the debate about how elaborate continued formation processes in apprenticeship digital contexts, having the school as its center. In placing the basic education formers as the focus of the study, this research also came across results that enlarge the rare existing reflections about teachers formers, mainly because are being focused the basic education professionals, which also offer outpoints for debates and new researches interested in increasing knowledge in this promising investigative front.<br>Esta pesquisa procura compreender as contribuições de um programa de formação continuada online para o desenvolvimento profissional de formadores em exercício na educação básica, sustentada pelo referencial teórico-metodológico da epistemologia da prática profissional e da educação a distância. Articularam-se as temáticas formação de professores e educação a distância , mais especificamente, educação online , considerando que a modalidade a distância, vinculada às tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TIC), torna-se um caminho para a concepção de novas oportunidades de desenvolvimento profissional considerando a escola como centro dos processos formativos. Foram tomados como referência Shulman, 1986 e 1987; Pérez Gómez, 1989; Zeichner, 1993 e 2008; Knowles e Cole, 1995; Tardif, 2000 e 2002; Prado e Valente, 2002; Almeida, 2003 e 2005; Mizukami et al, 2003, Moran, 2003; Vaillant, 2003; Schlemmer, 2005; Vaillant e Marcelo, 2006; Hunt, 2008. A metodologia adotada para o desenvolvimento desta investigação pauta-se no modelo construtivo-colaborativo de pesquisa-intervenção (Cole e Knowles, 1993; Mizukami et al, 2003), que está vinculado à matriz teórica da pesquisa qualitativa (Bogdan e Bicklen, 1994; Lüdke e André, 1986). A intervenção da pesquisa caracterizou-se pela realização de um programa de desenvolvimento profissional online, no ambiente digital de aprendizagem do Portal dos Professores da UFSCar, no qual participaram dezesseis formadores em exercício na educação básica e duas pesquisadoras como mediadoras do programa. Para as análises, partiu-se das narrativas dos formadores em atividades diversas, de fóruns de discussões desencadeados ao longo do processo de formação, mensagens particulares (correio), bem como os depoimentos que compuseram o memorial reflexivo elaborado ao término do programa pelos formadores. Os resultados procuram elucidar aspectos relacionados à configuração do trabalho ao longo do tempo no ambiente digital de aprendizagem, indicando diferentes momentos vividos pelos formadores nesse processo de desenvolvimento profissional e pela construção de relações de confiança no qual as dúvidas, angústias, medos, certezas e convicções que orientam suas práticas são explicitados no coletivo, oferecendo a oportunidade de reflexão na e sobre a prática a partir de um olhar compartilhado, permitindo assim a explicitação do não-saber e a possibilidade de negociar e construir sentidos acerca de como tornar-se formador na educação básica. Tal dinâmica se deu devido à presença contínua das pesquisadoras, que permitiu aproximar os formadores e criar vínculos afetivos, o que no contexto digital assume uma dimensão ainda mais complexa, em relação às questões subjetivas, devido à expressão do pensamento e à comunicação baseada na escrita. Além disso, os resultados evidenciaram indícios de como os saberes dos formadores foram se alterando ao longo do tempo, a partir dos conhecimentos que têm sobre a profissão, sobre o significado de ser formador, das relações que se estabelecem com os pares na escola, com as discussões teóricas sobre como ensinar professores a ensinar, com as possibilidades de continuar aprendendo apesar das adversidades da profissão e da função/cargo que ocupam. Neste sentido, é possível compreender esta pesquisaintervenção como uma investigação que transita no universo da formação na educação online e da prática profissional, e que congrega resultados que ampliam a discussão sobre como elaborar processos de formação continuada em ambientes digitais de aprendizagem tendo a escola como centro do processo. Ao colocar os formadores da educação básica como foco do estudo, esta pesquisa também se deparou com resultados que ampliam as escassas reflexões existentes sobre formadores de professores, principalmente por se tratar de profissionais da educação básica e oferecem indicadores para discussões e novas pesquisas interessadas em ampliar conhecimentos nessa promissora linha de investigação.