Learning at work

Explores the role of vocational thresholds in capability development for general practice medicine, carpentry, and engineering technician work and how it can apply to learning in any field.

How do people learn to become general practitioners, carpenters and engineering technicians? This report is based on the Knowing Practice project and explores practice-based learning and capability building across three different fields. It is co-published by NZCER and Ako Aotearoa. 

It’s a big deal to become an apprentice. You’ve decided you’d like to get trade qualified and your boss thinks you’re worth the time and effort. That’s why they signed you into a training agreement. While on the surface things might seem a little overwhelming, it’s not out of control. In fact it’s really under your control. So now is a good time for you to take charge of your apprenticeship because let’s face it – it’s your apprenticeship, your qualification and your career!

Lots of time and effort goes into OHS training, but which approaches really work? This article summarises the results of research into workplace learning.

This report analyses and discusses findings from a study of training programmes at six different workplaces, across four different industry sectors, around the country. Our research team visited each workplace, observed training sessions or training-related activities, and interviewed a range of people who were participating in the training, or leading and supporting the training programme and trainees.