Purpose: Employers often claim that the lack of employee competence is a limitation in their enterprises' success and viability. Consequently, employers are important stakeholders in considerations for workforce continuing education and training (CET) policies and practices. Hence, the authors undertook an exploratory investigation to understand…

The goal of workplace learning should be development of robust vocational knowledge. A model to achieve this includes guided learning strategies such as modeling, coaching, and questioning used by expert co-workers and opportunities for participation in workplace activities that provide learning experiences. (SK)

Constructs a workplace pedagogy of practices on three planes: participation in workplace activities, learning guided by more-experienced workers, and guided learning for transfer. Discusses how workplace pedagogy must account for ways in which workplaces provide access to guided learning and how individuals choose to participate. (Contains 49…

Evaluation of a workplace literacy program at a mining and processing plant involved interviews with 15 participants. Most used learning guides and valued computer-based learning but disliked videos. Observing and listening helped them move from knowing about to knowing how. (SK)

This paper advances some bases for a workplace curriculum. These are premised on conceptions of curriculum as intents directed to individual's progression towards full and effective workplace performance, yet whose enactment is shaped by workplace factors and is ultimately experienced by workers as learners. So whether the intentions will be…

Three Australian studies identified attributes of workplaces as learning environments: authentic activities, experts, other workers, and task engagement. Limitations of workplace learning included inappropriate knowledge, lack of access to activities, expert reluctance, absence of expertise, opaque knowledge, and problems with instructional media.…

Learning situated in authentic settings such as the workplace can provide peer and expert models and a physical environment that enhance problem solving and transfer of learning. In such settings, learners can access the social and cultural aspects of vocational skills. (SK)

A study conceptualized bases for learning in workplaces, examining reciprocity between how individuals are afforded access to workplace activities and guidance and how workers elect to engage in what they are offered. These reciprocal bases for thinking, acting, and learning are called "co-participation at work." The contributions that…

Recent research on Australia's vocational education and training (VET) system and women in small business was synthesized to identify ways of making VET more responsive to the needs of women in small business. Special attention was paid to the following topics: key issues affecting public policy (globalization, economic development, industry…