Projects 2001
Literacy and numeracy training
practices in industry: a comparative study across three industries.
Much still needs to be
explored in the way of trainers judgments about effective practices to facilitate
learning. This study examines how trainers create learning environments through
· teaching and learning activities;
· organized or ad hoc training repertoires; and
· negotiations with stakeholders regarding mechanisms for delivery.
The study is based on
a comparative analysis of trainer data collected across three different contexts and is
guided by an interest in the manner in which cross-industry practice might inform
developments in each site. Industries to be
investigated include those of seafood, retail and agriculture and horticulture.
Research Questions
- How do trainers understand the terms literacy and
numeracy across the three sites?
- What factors influence the inclusion of literacy
and numeracy skills development in the delivery of training units?
- What pedagogic practices are chosen to facilitate
learning and what is the rationale behind these choices (pedagogy here refers to the
integration of content, trainer strategies and learner involvement)?
- What assessment strategies are selected to report
on learning and what effect do the actual assessment practices have on
performance/recording that performance?
- What professional development activities are
available to trainers to improve their capacity to make judgments about training?
Methodology
- Invitation to participate in the research
extended to RTO’s in the designated industries followed by an information meeting to
outline the research purpose and to negotiate data collection processes. The project will aim for a group of trainers
representing three training contexts.
- Group training exercises with trainers to mentor
in data collection processes: narrative writing to describe training settings; reflection
exercises to gauge trainee learning; journal exercises to describe training strategies and
critical incidents in training; collection of assessment exemplars and teachers responses
to these exemplars.
- Analysis of data (joint with participants and
independently by the principal researcher) to identify similarities and differences in
training understandings, judgments and techniques. A key component of analysis will be the
identification of indicators for successful training as articulated and evidenced by
trainers and trainees at the various research sites.
Outcomes
The research will be
reported as case studies from the three sites. An
introductory section will provide an analysis of the research aims and a comparative study
of the findings across the three sites.
A separate document
will be developed as a resource for trainers. It will provide a summary of the findings
and will include a compilation of ‘good practice’ criteria to assist trainers in
their work.
For further
information contact ruth.trenerry@unisa.edu.au
