The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction - book overview

Managed to get hold of Matthew Crawford’s latest book, The world beyond your head: On becoming an individual in an age of distraction, from the local library and work through it over the long weekend.

The book is not for the casual reader. However, Crawford’s weaving of his own experiences to introduce or emphasise the many philosophical points through the book, makes the book more accessible. Hence, the book is a good example of blending some of the rigour of academia into a readable form.

Overview from wall street journal and reviews from the guardian and times higher education are positive and provide summaries of the main argument through the book.

The book has 13 chapters with additional introductory and closing chapters. After the introduction, there are 5 chapters in Part 1 revolving around ‘encountering things’. Then 7 chapters in part 2 centre around ‘other people’. The last chapter, makes up part 3 on ‘inheritance’. Below, my perspectives as I read through the book with 'learning a trade' or attaining expertise in craft, as anchors to my reading.

Introduction:- here the overarching argument of the book is introduced and discussed. There is a need for us to review how we attend to our individual self, despite the prevalent use within our society of various visual and aural stimulus, forcing us to divide our attention and /or continually be pulled from one topic to another through access to an array of options. Finding the time to consider/ think / work through and ruminate is becoming more difficult in a world filled with distractions either of our own making (web browsing) or imposed through the landscape we live in (advertisements). Some activities absorb us sufficiently for our best thinking and application of craft to flourish. In some forms of work, the ‘flow’ takes us on to greater heights of performance. However, can also lead us into the abyss of compulsion and addiction (e.g. gambling).

Part 1 – encountering things

1-      The jig, the nudge and local ecology – Here Crawford uses the concept of a ‘jig’ to illustrate the two ends of the pole of utilising jigs. Jigs are arrangements of tools, materials or spatial organisation to assist the performance of complex tasks. They can be used to enhance work tasks, as per examples provided in carpentry, bar tendering and short order cookery. But sophisticated jigs which can costs large amounts of energy and capital to put in place, can also lead to the ‘mechanisation’ and ‘standardisation’ of job tasks as per assembly line / Mcfood type arrangements.

2-      Embodied perception – uses the seamless relationships hockey players have with their sticks and motorcycle riders to illustrate the concepts of embodied perception. How the body is extended through synergistic attachments to a tool or vehicle. The closer the body to the tool or vehicle, the more the sensory / tactile feedback. Learning to become good in these activities requires time to learn, become accustomed and eventually embodied.

3-      Virtual reality as moral idea – A short chapter, bringing the concepts in the previous two chapters with further examples. In short, the design of things can either assist in forming the embodied relationship between us and tools / equipment / etc. or allow the tool / jig / arrangement to overtake us and cause us to be passive and dependent, completing tasks without thought.

4-      Attention and design – argues more for the need to not take design too far. There is a need for humans to still make decisions. Roads which require our attention to drive along, yield fewer incidences of accidents J whereas roads engineered to allow us to go into auto pilot, may actually be more dangerous.

5-      Autism as a design principle: gambling – uses the gambling industry as an example of how all the mechanisms build into slot machines, are there to entice, excite and eventually to enslave. How our biochemicals can cause us to pander to the needs of the body in ways which lead to fulfilment or decline, depending on the sort of activity we become attracted to.

Part 2 – other people

6-      On being led out – begins discussion on education, the need for social interaction being a key. Uses glass blowing team and the ‘apprenticeship’ of scientist to argue for the need of the relationship between learner and expert. 

7-      Encountering things with other people – basically a call to recognise the socio-culturality of human existence. All of what we take to be ‘independent’ thought, comes through our interactions with others, f2f and through artifacts, social structures etc.

8-      Achieving individuality – So where is the individual placed? This chapter tries to work out where in the bigger picture, the individual fits in. Argues skilled practice is one ‘marker’ recognisable by all, of an individual’s achievements. Therefore, if we become good at doing something, others provide us with accolades leading to cycle of positive reinforcement. For the individual, being good at something provides biochemical injections to cause us to further improve expertise.

9-      The culture of performance – which leads to this chapter on how individual’s show what they are made of. Otherwise, what is the point of doing? 

10-   The erotics of attention – probably the most difficult chapter to work through but persistence pays. In brief, the chapter argues for ways in which individuals may go about to make their mark. Attention is a key requirement, as without attending to what we do, there is no improvement in practice.

11-   The flattening – As a counterpoint to the previous chapter and a lead in to the next, this chapter discusses how individuals represent themselves to others and in turn how they perceive others, in relation to their own attention.

12-   The statistical self – ties up the loose ends in part 2.

Part 3 – inheritance – has the one chapter

13 – the organ makers’ shop – here the work of organ makers is used to support the examples and concepts discussed through the rest of the book. That a group of people have shared values, based on historical associations with an obscure craft, yet manifest strong views of craftsmanship framed by commercial imperatives.

Epilogue, provides a useful overview of the argument and summarises a ‘where to next’.

Overall, there is an need to attend, through the book. Some chapters require a few reads to understand the argument and reply, but each chapter does lead into the next. Several chapters are 'dense' but persistence pays. The book works well as there is a flow from one chapter into the next, so perhaps not a book to dip in and out of, but one which requires attending to :) So, I am happy to have put the time an effort into working through the book and will do a re-read over the summer, to wring out the many messages in the book, pertinent my work.

NZVET research forum day 2 afternoon

After lunch, 2 concurrent sessions before closing keynote. Firstly, Anne Alkema and Heather McDonald with 'progress with embedded literacy and numeracy in industry training' providing practices, progress and challenges from 2009 through to 2014. Summary of work for TEC and evaluation of work of embedding literacy and numeracy learning in the workplace. Find out if emphasis on building off a model of explicit acts of literacy and numeracy in learning has worked. Substantial shifts in policy and activities from mid 2000s onwards have made it sometimes difficult for people implementing strategies. Embedding in ITOs is multifaceted, integrated and evolving with focus on accessible learning resources, capable field staff and employer and on job training practices. Assessment tool used by all L 2 but at L 3 some do not with results used in a variety of ways. High use dependent on ITO control over process, high expectations of trainee engagement and tradition of investing in training. Learning resources improved with most enabling self directed study. On-job embedding had mixed up take and scope for impact varied. Employers keen to have Literacy and numeracy included and appreciated better access to support. In general, ITo strategies now include literacy and numeracy, a greater depth of understanding and more resources made available with increased capability with field staff. So overall, greater confidence and competence, skill development improved and capability and capacity better. Lots of improvement but hard to pinpoint if literacy and numeracy has improved in learners. An elements of embedded LN developed as guideline for ITOs along with recommendations for moving forward. 

Second up, Mike Styles from Primary ITO on 'implementation of learning interventions which support dyslexic trainees in classroom and workplace environments'. Reported that trainees in primary sector have found greater incidence of dyslexia than in general population. Many dyslexics have strategies to hide or work around their challenge. Historically, NZ have offered poor support in comparison to other countries like UK. Primary ITo drafted support package based in international understanding of how to support adult dyslexia. But literature not in workplace support. Ako Aotearoa supported project to develop screen tool to identify dyslexic trainees, provide up to date info to trainees, encourage trainee to accept their condition, shares info with trainees' supporters and work with workbridge to access technological aids to assist. Evaluation of effectiveness undertaken. In general, raised profile of dyslexia for all involved, reinforced value of mentors and led to larger national project for learners across a wider range of sectors.

Closing plenary is with Dr. Ganesh Nana who is executive director and chief economist at BERL with 'vocational education and the changing workforce'. Always provides a good overview and provided findings using census data to the  'future of work' initiative. Discussed change in labour market, is industry training still able to meet the needs? which workforce is requiring training? when and for what?  Census data although it is dated by the time released does provide good coverage and allows analysis of employed workforce. For instance able to divide up into employees within scope of ITO (1.2 million) and those outside (0.7 million). Tends to be younger, no quality, school qual or VET qual and more males with sectors within ITO scope. 34,000, 5,000 and 26,000 managers, professionals and technicians / trade workers do not have qualifications! Over last six years, about 10,000 jobs less in sectors with ITOs Affecting younger workers. Those with no quals and VeT quals lower in number. Managers, professionals and service workers increase but all others seemed to have decreased. If we continue as we have been operating, managers and professionals constant with small increases in trades and service sector. Options match training to job demand, have older people stay in work, focus on school leavers or people with no school quals to upgrade, identify necessary skills, push higher quals or use return on investment model. Need to link with stakeholders.

Overall, a good conference to catch up with NZ Vocational Education researchers, supporters and practitioners. There seems to have been a refresh of personnel following 'mergers' of ITOs, so the work of getting to know each ITO re-begins.

NZVET research forum Day 2 morning

Day dawns fine, windy and clear in Wellington. Conference reconvenes with opening by Jenny Salesa, Labour (opposite party) spokesperson for Tertiary Education, skills and employment. Provided update on what has been taking place with the 'future for work' committee and how the conference participants can contribute. Presented the rationale for the work undertaken by the committee including need for inclusivity due to demographic changes challenging NZ in the next 30 years.

The day's first keynote is from Michael Davis, chief executive of the United Kingdom Commission for Employment and Skills who provides us with  'a British perspective on achieving growth through people: five principles for building a stronger skills system'. The five principles are employer led, improve workplace productivity, earning and learning, connect education and employers and wider set of outcomes measured as success in educational attainment. Produced overview and context leading to development of the principles. Globalisation and technology had led to squeezing out of many middle skills roles (e.g. Book keepers) but still high demands for low skills ( e.g. Aged care) and high skills (IT etc.). Natural ladder up work hierarchy therefore made more difficult. Need for rapid responsiveness to market means educating for high skill occupations always behind. Skills mismatch a major challenge with difficulties in filling some skilled positions and millions with skills who work in jobs where the skills are not utilised. As an example, Northern Ireland using FE colleges to prepare people for apprenticeships with 14 to 16 generalised formal pre apprenticeship. Trying to ease tensions between need of industry for generalised skill sets but specific skills by employers. Extended to degree level as well with 3 - 4 years work based route to complete batchelors. Many intangibles contribute to countries' GDP and with UK and NZ being service focused economies, there is challenge in quantifying outputs. How does individuals' motivations align with workplace objectives and business goals. 

After morning tea concurrent sessions begin and I attend session with Antje Handelmann who is a PhD student at the University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer, Germany. She presents via Skype on 'the biographical relevance of apprenticeship '. Antje visited me in Christchurch earlier this year and it is good to see her progress. Objective to construct the perspectives of apprentices in Germany and NZ especially through school to work transitions. Using biographical research to construct youth perspective of school to work transition. Selected two countries with quite different apprenticeship systems. Overview of and rationale for using the biological method. Needs to analyse what people tell and how they tell it. So not just describe but the subjects entanglement in their social milieu. Provided some data and models how the data analysed. From the example, themes of social changes and the impact on individuals, who have to cope on their own, is revealed. Concluded on importance of research topic and contribution of biographical research. 

Next, a session with Sandra Johnson from Peninsula People and Lee Pennock from Downer NZ with mentor shop from Chris Holland, on 'a collaborative approach to apprentice mentoring: An employer 's perspective'. Presented details of Downer's workplace mentoring programme funded by Ako Aotearoa with other ITOs also assisting. Challenges were apprentices being geographically dispersed, covering a broad range of qualifications, poor retention and high non-completion. Cadet level mentoring was working well so how to scale across to apprenticeship with higher numbers and more complex range of trades. So focused on working with apprentices registered with 2 ITOs connexus and primary. Defined collaboration with advisory groups, initial survey to obtain baseline data, conducted workshops on mentoring with internal and ITO and the follow up survey. Established shared understanding on mentoring apprentices, training mentors, defined clear roles, established consistent tools to support the process. Shares the challenges and barriers after initial launch including time constraints and selection of mentors. Refinement of process then instigated. Firstly to rationalise number of qualifications apprentices sign up in and creating a structure for cohorts of apprentices to be formed twice a year, assisting in scheduling and support synergies. Completion rates improved with most apprentices working on track towards completion. Also better alignment between what apprentices required and what was provided by mentor and ITO support. 

NZ VET research forum - day 1 afternoon

After lunch, concurrent sessions begin again and I attend the session on 'shifting sands: embedding mobile technology into VET' with Lee Baglow and Chris Lovegrove from Unitec. Presentation on building staff capability and to empower staff to deploy technology enhanced learning to assist automotive students' learning. Shared apps explored to evaluate fit for context. Taking in mind learner profile and needs of industry. Staff enthusiasm somewhat dampened when institution moved a different direction. Less support for open source and move to institutional learning management systems.

Then another technology based presentation with Carolyn McIntosh from Otago Polytechnic on 'video and self assessment in an undergraduate midwifery degree programme'. OP covers the southern Half of NZ for midwifery. Covered a way to support distance students to learn and assess communication skills using videos.

Second plenary panel follows with myself presenting on 'graduate profiles and alignment to occupational identity', Dr. Karen Vaughan from NZCER reporting on Ako Aotearoa funded project on 'growing practice' and Dr. Lisa Maurice-Takerei on 'identity with trades tutor.' 

Karen presented on the knowing practice project which studies the workplace learning experiences of general practitioners, carpenters and engineering technician cadets. Becoming something was an underlying framework with learning conceptualised as a series of crossing of vocational thresholds. Capability is about knowing, doing and being. Used a critical incident type approach to see if participants able to identify and articulate how they learnt to become. Learning came to be transformational experiences and the need to cross a threshold which they are not able to turn back out of. Provided examples from the data on the transformation of general practitioners, carpenters and engineers explained as vocational thresholds.

Karen's presentation led well into my presentation centered around matching graduate profiles which are the outcomes of NZ certificates to job roles or occupational identities. A pivot point in how learners progress is the conferment of responsibility. Taking small workplaces are unable to support workers who are unproductive, learners who are conferred job roles should meet graduate profiles if job roles are matched to them.

Lisa's was on honouring the perspectives of trades tutors and how their work focused lens, can be developed to inform pedagogical approaches in VET. Provided information on project and presented selected portion of findings from focus group on asking trades tutors to construct a model representing their understanding of teaching and learning in VeT. Models constructed were aligned to trades tutors discipline area! Advocates need to develop solutions to tap into expertise of trades tutors. 

Last concurrent sessions after afternoon tea with Glen Keith / Peter Scanlon from Service IQ, Isaac Liava'a from the Skills Organisation, Joel Rewa-Morgan / Ifi Ripley from Career Force, Iani Nemai from Competenz and Debbie Ryan and Brenden Mischewski from Pacific Perspectives, present on the topic of Pacific Learner success in workplace settings. This is a progress overview on an Ako Aotearoa national project. Need for research in workplace setting as other recent studies completed in tertiary/ higher ed. Project was to identify critical success factors, show effective models applicable to workplace settings and improve learning outcomes for trainees. From lit review mentoring, context, employers support are central and new approaches, internal change through ITOs and systems for measurement of success important. Need to tap into Pacifica as it is a youthful population. 2 pilots established to find out if mentoring / study groups / facilitator, works to increase engagement, self confidence, completion of credits. Objective to inform creation of better learning environments, deployment of pacifica learning approaches etc. provided overview of the evaluation method and how results will be implemented. 

A busy day but good to see how NZ policies are working towards supporting individuals to develop to their best, in turn, not only to make their lives but those of their communities and eventually for NZ better. 

NZ VET research forum, Day 1 morning

This year, the NZ Vocational Education and Training Research forum is held at Te Papa, the NZ National museum. Well attended by ITO with a sprinkling of polytechnic staff. Dr. Rhonda Thompson from Ako Aotearoa sets the scene and Dr. Peter Coolbear Ako Aotearoa Director provides a welcome and housekeeping information. The forum is then officially opened by the Hon Louise Upton, Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment. The minister provided overview of Government with regards to skills, emphasising examples from the primary industry and need to ensure NZ trains for skills required rather than depending on offshore expertise. Reiterated the need to ensure all sectors of NZ are provided with opportunities to develop skills to contribute, using a need to increase participation of women in apprenticeship.

Opening keynote is with Dr. Borhene Chakroun who is with UNESCO as chief of the youth literacy and skills development group. Dr. Chakroun shared the guidelines outlined as UNESCO vision for TVET including qualifications, pathways and approaches to learning; the role of research, quality assurance and evaluation; governance, regulation, and funding; and greater involvement of non-government partners and connections to the labour market. The TVET future global strategy for 2016-2021 is currently being developed by UNESCO. Began with overview of current challenges and how TVET is able to contribute. Major challenge with youth unemployment and increase in income inequality. Skills in new innovations is rapid and we are now into the 6th wave of sustainability and technology. Multi skilling and reskilling now normal requirements. Yet TVET enrolments declining! Covered NZ's adoption of UN sustainability goals including poverty reduction, better health, quality education, gender equality, responsible consumption etc. by 2030 to ensure equitable and inclusive quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. Focus of national economies on TVET to meet aspirations of 2030. Provided information on collaborative research with overview of key themes. Life long learning, 4 pillars of learning - learning to know, to do, to live together and to be - and rethinking education as a common good. 3 lenses need to be considered, sustainability (tend to be emergent), social equity (mixed attention)' and economic growth (main objective). TVET has great variety, volume through education to the masses, velocity due to rapid technological advances and need to maintain validity. Therefore need for objectives of TVET to be aligned with policies and systems through government (inter sectorial, funding and partnerships) to achieve equity quality and relevance and informed through evaluation and knowledge management. for 2030 propose support for policy and capacity development, set standards, manage knowledge and support skills intelligence, promote framework for transparency, recognition, mobility and lifelong learning pathways, and mobilise partners, networks and advocacy. Collaborative research agenda include skills anticipation, conceptualising skills (core, sustainability etc,), labour market / social outcomes, local development, learning (work based, pathways, spaces etc.), attractiveness of TVET, teacher training, governance and future of work. 

After morning tea, we have concurrent sessions. I attend presentation on 'why do industry trainees not complete their qualifications' - 'work's like work - there's nothing training about it' or learning, life and work Anne Alkema, Heather McDonald from Heathrose research and Dr. Nicky Murray from Ontask Ltd. Heather went through background and method. Project with 10 ITOs. Completions rates now at 36%, up from 30% five years ago. Qualitative interviews with 110 trainees (level 3 , 4) who withdrew in 2014. Literature reveals effect of system, employer and personal factors as contributing. 65% had nAtional qualification at level 3 or higher already. 80% motivated and 70% did not actually need a qualification but 60% of employers felt qualification required. Pay rates were not main motivating factor. Learning at work was a contentious, unstructured, need to ask for help. Training equated with book work which had to be completed on own time - the training burden. Support for the learning crucial. Especially if time available at work. Interventions may be useful at intersections of systems and employers. Workplace training affordances were main recommendations from trainees to assist completion. For system, good practice admin processes and assessment practices may assist. As training burden increases, drive to complete diminishes. 

A plenary session follows on the social and economic outcomes from vocational education with panel consisting of David Earle, chief research analyst at the Ministry of Education, Linda Cameron, senior analyst at Treasury and Josh Williams representing the VET reform group. David reported on the findings from the latest Youth Guarantee report on employment and further outcomes. Report on website. In general, YG stayed in education in the first year after programme, more likely to gain NCEA level 2 but having gained L2 does not raise participation in tertiary study. Modest improvement to employment outcomes following YG. Need to be realistic as YG is a single programme intervention which is short. 

Linda presented on why treasury supports TVET and the living standards framework. Treasury vision is to work for higher living standards for all NZers. Higher living standards represent economic growth, sustainability for the future, equity, social infrastructure and managing risks.

Josh shared the outcomes framework being developed by the VET reform group - a joint ITO and ITP initiative. Although VET works in NZ, there is still room for improvement. VET reform seeks to identify potential success indicators for NZ VET sector. Work needs to be done to ensure a 'joined up system' for impact and value, integration, flexibility, collaboration, choice and matching and alignment. Need to have the learner at the centre so there are no systemic / funding barriers to seamless movement between providers. 

Lively discussion followed before lunch break. 

Deliberate practice - some critiques

Ericsson’s work on deliberate practice is cited often in the vocational education literature, here is link to one of his papers. Concepts of deliberate practice have been popularised through popular literature by Gladwell’s book, Outliers.

However, there are critiques to the concepts inherent in deliberate practice as per this article from open colleges. Notably, that the research used to frame deliberate practice has been carried out with areas of skill learning which are relatively narrow. For example, the studies on expertise with chess players and the learning of musical instruments.

Learning any trade requires a wide range of skill sets, so there is difficulty in generalising all the recommendations and findings across to learning occupational skills. However, deliberate practice does provide for one process to explain the learning of a discrete set of skill.

Critiques include the following: From msu research - takes the nature vs nurture dichotomy and argues for the mainly nature with some nurture stance. An academic article by  Hamrick and others propose the need to study the deliberate practice process more deeply.

So still some way to go with regards to clarifying how we actually go about learning skills through practice. 

National tertiary learning and teaching conference- day 3

Updated with links

Day 3 begins with a keynote from Professor Geoffrey Scott from the University of West Australia on 'developing and assessing graduates who are work ready plus'. Provided background and rationale for importance of topic. Good leaders are good teachers. Discussed importance of assessments in the landscape and how assessments tell us focus of programme. Less assessments done well should be the objective. Need to align learning design, support and infrastructure and delivery lead to impact on learning as a quality and standards framework for learning and teaching. Start with what to focus on to lead to impact and identity what needs to be done. Defined learning outcomes and how to best validate them. Professional capability framework includes personal, interpersonal, cognitive ( capability), role specific and generic competence. Competency provides for work readiness and capabilities add the work ready plus. Need to listen, link, leverage and lead to bring about results. Work ready plus also includes sustainability literate, change implementation savvy, creative and inventive not just regurgitative, clear on what one stands on tacit assumptions exampled by continued growth, consumption, ICT and globalisation. Types of assessments include integrated capabilities, critical evaluation, ability to work to a brief, problem diagnosis, formation and solving - via multiple modes, studio, experimental modes, portfolios etc. covered implementation challenges with students, staff and suggestions on how to circumvent. Need a 'one stop shop' bringing together multiple websites, role specific self teaching guides on how to lead change and capacity building workshops for leaders. 

After mornings tea, a series of 3 presentations before conference closes with a short panel discussion and a poroporoaki.

Nick Carter from Waiariki takes us through his work on 'guided risk taking- teaching theory to very practical learners'. Course design for engaging students through challenging students to move beyond the things they are comfortable with. Applies concepts of whanaungatanga, kiatiakitanga and  maanakitanga. Planning and design for learning to include learning of skills that can be used across many contexts. Uses scaffolding, experiential learning,  strategies that lead to positive outcome, authenticity, transparency and dialogue in assessment, evaluation and reflecting and debriefing . 

Then a session with Richard Wilson from Unitec on 'feeding forward for reflective learning in vocational education'. Presented case study of his own teaching in finding out how to better use feedback to improve learning in the Bachelor of Applied Technology - level 6 repair and transportation and level 5 marine construction. Assessment based on portfolio 80% and logbook 20%. Poor directions and no formative feedback meant students struggled. Solution to use case study to study specific set of circumstances and real situations experienced in the marine industry. Logbook was removed. Portfolio consisted of 4 cases selected from 12 scenarios studied. Formative feedback and feed forward provided through google docs two weeks before summative submission for each case. Student success and retention improved. 

Last presentation with Aaron Steele and Graeme Read from UCOL on 'levelling up: lecturers' perspectives'.  What are strategies that work at various levels of learning and why teaching strategies may be different. Implications on class room management and autonomy. Contact time is higher with students at certificate level with higher expectations for pastoral care and support to complete assessments. Teaching intensity higher at certificate level but content complexity increases with level. Certificate programmes sometime require all learning to occur during class time but higher level courses includes self directed learning. 

All in, a good selection of presentations. The polytechnic sector seems to be well committed to active learning which is learning and student centred. Always good to learn of the challenges faced by other institutions and processes used to address, move forward and focus on enhancing student learning. 

National tertiary learning and teaching conference, day 2 afternoon

Updated with links.

After lunch another series of 4 presentations. Firstly, with Carmel Haggarty from Whitireia on 'developing courses the easy way'. Presented reasons for 'rapid' course development professional development package. Based on the LATARE and the ADDIE framework. LATARE (leaning outcomes, assessment, topics, activities, resources and evaluation) originated from OTARA And based on Chickering and Gamson, 1987  - 7 principles of good practice in undergraduate education. Informational provided on Moodle site as starter packages for tutors before they assist in course development. Templates linked to each stage. 

Secondly, from Susie Kung from Manukau Institute of Technology, who presented on 'effective tertiary teaching: learning spaces'. Presented the use of appreciative inquiry to understand what makes better teaching. AI encourages eyes to see the positive and to assist the move into the future. The 4 D (discover, Dream, design and destiny) cycle originated from dissatisfaction with action research. Study sought to find out the students experienced curriculum and what assisted them to become teachers (ways of being). Effective teaching learning were enduring influences, in class presentations, provokes deep reflective thinking, theory with practice, getting to know self and to know others. 

Third up was a presentation on 'flipping teacher observations: from judgment to collaborative practice ' with Vani Naik and Sian Hodge from NTEC (NZ Tertiary Group). Discussed traditional observation approaches and their pros and cons. Introduced CORE - collaboration, observation, reflection and extension. Collaborator mutually negotiate with teacher as to what to improve etc. suggestions offered and agree if observations will assist. Observation of session, not teacher. Reflection has 4 set and 4 negotiated questions. Extension involves discussion, suggestions and set up of plans going forward. Shared evaluation undertaken of deployment of CORE indicate positive responses. 

Then a team presentation (Jane Terrell, Dave Snell, Karen Haines, Bettina Schwenger and Mark Smith) from Massey University and Unitec represented by Jane Terrell and Dave Snell (Massey) on 'getting it right: guidelines for online assessment in NZ tertiary contexts'. An Ako Aotearoa hub project in progress. Defined online assessments as taking place via discussion forums or other online tools. Goal to create a set of guidelines and an interactive tool. Presently analysing the. 14 case studies. Including blogs,wikis, eportfolios, glossaries, forums, video, turnitin etc. tool is to help tutors to assess whether, how and what to use in terms of online assessment. 

After afternoon tea, another 4 more presentations revolving around staff capability. 2 snapshot presentations from Dean Ellery 'are my handouts bankrupting the organisation and destroying the planet?' Paperless = cost savings and environmental focus? Hardware costs down but IT and power costs required. Sustainability issues comparing paper and e readers need to be thought through. Digital tools have higher costs relate to storage, hardware and disposal. Paper may be more sustainable as more effective in carbon storage, recyclable etc. Learner values include writing on paper being more cognitive complex, reading deeper and comprehension better, providing better overviews without the need to scroll. 

Debbie Coates on 'does action research learning in the classroom meet the learning styles of international students?' Rationale shared for need to develop capabilities as lifelong learners. Action learning promotes higher order thinking and reflection. Usually based around scenario based learning to solve problems. Interviewed small number of students and found most were reflective. Action learning was enjoyed by students. Students could adapt and a good transition from predominantly rote learning background to greater reflection. 

Gerry Duignan and John Hitchcock from Weltec present on 'lessons learnt: professional development for experienced teachers in vocational education.'  Progress report on a project funded by Ako Aotearoa. Defined professional development. Presented objectives of project and feedback on questionnaire sought. 

Last up today is Liz Fitchett and Kevin Dyke from Waiariki presents on 'using a co-operative academic induction process to fast track new teaching staff into their career as teaching professionals'. Provided background, rationale and details of a support process for inducting new tutors. Involves support from heads of department ( manages process), student feedback, learning advisor support coordinated by educational developer.  Tutors sent on observation reports to HOD but their choice. Educational developer assist tutor to set up Teaching plan. Observations (3)  and student feedback completed by learning advisor. Mentor assigned to provide peer support. positive feedback from new tutors, students  and HODs drive the continued evolution of the process despite the time and personnel intensive nature of the process. Good outcomes cost. 

Conference dinner follows with a looked forward to keynote from Professor Welby Ings from Auckland University of Technology, who will challenge the participants with his presentation 'beyond the marshmallow cocoon: risk, transformation and disobedient thought'. 

National Tertiary Learning and Teaching conference - 2015 Day 2 morning

Now updated with links.

Take the conference bus out to the BoPP Wildermere campus for another busy day. The day begins with keynote from Dr. Ingrid Huygens who presents on 'educating for a Tiriti relationship: learning about Maori visions for Pakeha settlement'. Focused on some history from the Maori perspective and examples from contemporary tertiary education. Reminder to educators of our role in the 'cultural work' industry and to ensure our students continue to be committed to roles as a 'conscience' checkers. Have to help educate for social issues, skills to work across cultures and work through implications of colonisation and decolonisation. Sites of power in the Maori world is from the whenau, the people, up whereas for pakeha, the monarchical down process. Described the ways Maori developed new tikanga (laws or rules) to work with influx of whalers and then settlers and the precursor activity to the signing of the Tiriti. Also the original ways hapu worked together in cooperative endeavours to trade, grow and harvest food. Clarified how Maori interpreted the Tiriti in terms of their worldview and the roots of present Tiriti reconciliations and claims. Encouraged connection of educators with the 'honour the treaty' movement and to apply to their own teaching contexts to contribute towards building a decolonized future. 

After morning tea, I chair four sessions with mine scheduled at the end. First up, we had Hemi Inia and Eruera Prendergast-Tarena present on the 'He Toki Ki Te Mahi': supporting Maori apprentices'. The programme is a cooperative initiative launched in 2011 between Hawkins Construction, Ngai Tahu and Cpit which is led by the Ngai Tahu Iwi. Objective not only for skills training to be a mechanism for large scale social change to support and enable Maori aspirations. 800 trainees through pre apprenticeship into apprenticeship and then into a higher level learning pathway into leadership as site managers, project manager and quantity surveyors including business ownership. In apprenticeship, He Toki are the employer with host employers including Hawkins, Fletcher, Dominion and Max. He Toki also screens applicants and assist entry into apprenticeship if any pre-preparation required. Uses learning and mentoring frameworks - Ako Whakaruruhau (Kerehoma et al., 2013). Focus on whanau and apprentices to ensure success and pathways to careers and future livelihoods. 

Then, a session with Dean Ellery from BoPP 'if creativity is so important to the arts, business and society, why don't we teach it?' Your creative potential is within you but if it is, you need to decide what and how to do it. Need to find who you are so that your creativity is able to come forth. Defines as creativity is about the motivation to bring something new into existence. Everyone is creative as we are born with it and for some creativity were educated out of them :(  creative requires energy and risk. Teaching creativity involves helping individuals realise their potential and also entails creating challenges to the known order. Creativity learning required through all levels of education. Students complete Level 2 NCEA instead of dropping out of school. 

Thirdly, we had a presentation on 'from drop-out to Master Builder. The success story of a Trades Academy' with Colin O'Gorman and Andy Pivac from Unitec - Auckland West Vocational Academy. Went through how academy set up and results. A partnership with Massey High School who funded the logistical set up of with programme focused on building a house to create learning environment for learning. Unitec provided programme expertise, trades skills and trades teaching. Seed money from housing foundation into a community organisation called village trust. House then sold to housing corporation. 

My presentation on 'aligning graduate profile framed qualifications with occupational identity indicators' followed. The presentation focussed on how to apply graduate profile to assessment processes to recognise skills / dispositions attained through conferment of job tasks, responsibilities and job titles. Advocating for understanding of the holistic nature of embodied occupational identity and how to introduce newcomers to and how to better affirm occupational identity. 

National Tertiary Learning and Teaching conference - 2015 day 1afternoon

NTLT day one, afternoon (now updated with links)

After lunch, continue with the elearning track. First up, Debbie Hallam from BoPP percent n 'harnessing technology to map out a future: providing industry capability across NZ'. Shared journey from being in the construction industry to education. Skill shortage in surveying in NZ. Institute of Surveyors worked with BoPP to find solution to offer diploma qualification across NZ. Other associated ancillary areas also developed including quantity surveying and construction management. Abode Connect used a a tool to connect with learners with many completing the programme part time and working full time. Flexible enrolments possible. Staff development accelerated by colleague with high digital literacy contribution for a year. Student feedback listened to and course development increased considerably. Two dedicated suites now available for blended learning to occur. Now have 70% of cohort as online students scattered throughout NZ. 

Second up, 'critical challenges for managing summative assessment of student learning in online programmes' with Lynette Steele from BoPP. Two business programmes offered only through BoPP, diploma in conveyancing and graduate certificate in NZ immigration advice (offered internationally). Summarised the challenges related to final exams including those imposed by licensing authorities. Alternatives include open exam on students own computer at specific time for a set amount of time. Use software or supervisor to check ID and monitor student during exam, apply exam design techniques and submit exam immediately to institution for marking.  

Then, Kung Keat Teoh from Flinders university and Pek Fong Ng from University of South Australia with 'academics and next generation elearning systems: of roles and pedagogy '. Provided some ideas on the advancement of technologies and relevance to education. BYOD allows feedback in real time to lecturer while lectures continue. Mobile learning affordances for multi media resources etc. social networks can be leveraged. Moocs overview. Plusses and minuses discussed for each. Need for educators to keep abreast of potential future education technologies and adopt effectively. Future techs include image retrieval technology (match images to real world application); artificial intelligence to read images - see TED talk; smart lab systems to incorporate haptic simulations; learning agents or virtual personal tutors; adaptive learning (e.g. Knewton or AdeLE); emotion based learning; virtual reality environments. Discussion on role of teachers and need to keep up to date and strategies to achieve. 

Fourth, presentation of the afternoon with Lynette Winter and Nikki Hannan from CPIT on 'a model for blending a highly interactive face to face course'. Rationale and learning from providing teacher qualification - certificate and diploma - to blended. Programme offered to 7 polytechnics. Important objective was also to model flexible learning to tutors and have tutors experience online learning before they had to teach online. Re design completed in conjunction with other polytechnics. Used a workplace training context and OTARA as the learning design frame. Use f2f to warm up to online;  online activities encourage tutors to apply and report back on; integrate into the activities into assessments. 

Move across to an group assessment stream after afternoon tea. Presenting a timefirst are Nick Hearns and Jay Hays form Unitec on 'student teams: promises, problems nod paradoxes'. Presented, within business context, the reasons for learners to work in teams with assumption that team skills can be learnt and transferred. Challenges to placing students into teams include team outcomes are often only equal to one individual best efforts; student frustration with repeated use of teams and not actually learning team skills! Paradoxes are ineffective team assessments leads to disengagement. Therefore, need to prepare students to work In teams but student teams have inherent difficulties. These are short time span of teams duration, generic and low level expertise and undifferentiated experience. See Salas, 2015 for latest on on team building and types of team. Recommended a team learning pyramid to model elements of dialogue (elementary, improving, proficient, highly advanced and highly sophisticated), reflection and mindfulness. Assign roles like mover, opposer, bystander and follower as anchors to improve elements. 

Next up, Michelle Wright and Jane Dillon from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology on 'facilitating group work online'. Covered facilitation skills for tutors requires social, instructional and social presence. Social presence requires building a community of inquiry with a social learning culture. Instructional presence require detailed instructions and coaxing through reminder. Cognitive presence makes us a conscious attempt to deepen student understanding and learning. Based on Salmon's 5 stage model. Build a communication plan for the course to ensure all bases covered and to organise busy course. Applied management programme used to provide an e ample of how to apply the facilitation skills. Self and peer evaluation rubric used to mark group work. Team presents findings but also assessed on individual reports and reflections. 

Last session for the day is on the 'collaboration conundrum: "but it's my mark l care about!' With Anne Bradley at BOPP. Challenges of inquiry based learning with student teams working towards attaining employment capability, research capability and management knowledge. How to counter a individualistic culture to allow for valuing of collaboration and collective knowledge. Fostering a community of learning is a key. Ran through several activities to anchor concepts presented. 

 Busy day, with several interesting sessions and good to catch up with other educational developers and trades tutors. Off to taste and nibbles session for the early evening. 

National Tertiary Learning and Teaching Conference 2015 - day 1 morning

As per usual, will tidy this post when I get back to office next week. Meanwhile, notes taken over the next few days posted. NOW tidied with appropriate links :)

This year the annual National Tertiary Learning and Teaching conference is hosted by Bay of Plenty Polytechnic (BoPP) in Tauranga. A busy 3 days of keynotes, workshops and various presentations.

Conference begins with a mihi whakatua (Maori welcome) and welcome from Dr. Alan Hampton BoPP CEO and cohost Professor Margaret Noble CEO of Waiariki. 

The first keynote is from Ngahiwi Apanui CE of Te Reo Maori, who speaks on 'Hei toko I Te Tukunga: enabling Maori tertiary learner success'. Reviewed the reasons for the need to ensure young Maori capability is raised as in 2050, 52% of population will be Maori, Pacifica or Asian, with many pakeha superannuated. Maori need to move from 'resistance' to 'leadership'. Used Miraka as a company case study of success. Provided current statistics relating to Maori learners and achievement. Urged reading of June 2015 report fro Ako Aotearoa on enhancing Maori tertiary learning success especially to use the resource developed to assist good practice for governance and management, teachers, support services. Process is to set up kaupapa (principle), whakamarana (explanation), tikanga (practice), taunaki (evidence), Te Puna (source) and nga hua (indicators). Encouraged participation in Ako Aotearoa workshops to engage with, understand and develop hei toko framework for own context. 

Then attended sessions in the stream on elearning. Beginning with session on 'satellite education: a ticket to opportunity ' with Rachel Gardiner and Heather Watt from Bay of Plenty Polytechnic. Provided overview of context and rationale for satellite or offsite and challenges and recommendations. Included how to select venues, types of programs, importance of community engagement and organisational commitment. Need to understand student background, previous educational experience and their goals. Student challenges are many, with need for understanding of specific needs. Check Ako Aotearoa project for upcoming report funded through regional hub projects fund. 

Next session was with Narissa Bayler and Jackie Brown from Waiariki Polytechnic on 'eportfolios and their use in tertiary context'. Presentation revolved around the exploration of a suitable eportfolio platform which will fit diverse learning and teaching needs of the institute. Reported on trials of Google Sites and Mahara. Google Sites requires some tech savviness as it is a web site platform. Templates are difficult to establish and analytics are not learning focused. Access into Mahara portfolio more straightforward and when the mechanics of how it works established, greater versatility and customisation possible. Integration to Moodle provides more seamless institutional application. 

A world without work??

Recently, an interesting article via a link on the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) news page caught my eye.

The article, discusses how technology is finally going to impact on work. The use of technology will see more work done by humans, be replaced by computers, robots and/or machines. Although the article discusses implications from a North American perspective, the various works quoted from economists are gleaned from beyond the US of A.

The article makes for some sobering but also uplifting reading. I suppose it depends on where you are at with regards to work. What sort of work are you currently engaged in? Is it enjoyable or a daily drudgery? Is it going to be affected by the imminent technological advances?

The three scenarios (consumption, communal creativity and contingency) of what the world without work may look like provide for some food for thought. Each and perhaps all the three scenarios are feasible. 

As always, it is how society accepts the future role of work that matters. If one is raised to be ‘work-focused’ and see work as a way to ‘provide for oneself and one’s family’ the cessation of work will be traumatic. Work identity is often the pre-eminent identity we have. When we meet someone, one of the first things we ask is ‘what do you do? Meaning what is your occupation.

What happens in a society where work becomes a subset of one’s life? For some, a balanced lifestyle will be within reach. For others, the life of a precariat may not be something they had planned for.

As vocational educators, we need to be always cognisant of what is going on in the world of work. Preparing learners for a world which is in a state of flux and where working life will involve a need to 'shift gears' as the need for certain occupations wax and wane. 

Connectome - how brains wiring makes us who we are - book overview

While away for the INAP conference a fortnight ago, I took along the book 'Connectome - how brains wiring make us who we are' by Sebastian Seung borrowed from the local library following the watching (a month of so ago) of Professor Seung's Ted talk on the topic.

The introduction and part of chapter one of the book are available through Google books and this NY Times article provides a good summary of the rationale for the quest for understanding how the human brain works. Critiques can be found on the Guardian and Wall Street Journal.

I found the book to be very readable overview and introduction to the biological foundations of our brain. The book drills describes the difficult and ongoing challenge of unpacking how our brain works and trying to find 'where' our memories and experiences are actually stored in our brains. Professor Seung's work is based on computational neuroscience whereby computer software is used to unravel the structure of the brain through examination of electronic microscope images. Through using specialised 'tracing' software, the various pathways of neurons are colour coded. Providing a way to try to understand how our brain makes connections, how we access the brain's information and store new learning.

The underlying hypothesis is that pathways through neurons which become well used, become 'super highways' or state highways' through which our experiences are channeled. As some pathways become more used, they become well-worn tracks or connectomes. Finding these connectomes, provides a way to mentally trace individuals' experiences / memories. The challenge is to actually find these connectomes in the highly complex and intricate human brain, so studies are presently focused on animals with much smaller brains - like worms'. Ramping the tracing software up to cope with the intricacies presented by larger brains remains a major challenge.

The book is a good introduction to the micro-level information on how the brain works. The hunt for the connectomes is perhaps only able to supply part of the picture of how we do learn, remember and are what we are. Professor Seung's work adds to the growing understand we now have of how our brain works. However, much still needs to be done.

INAP conference - Day 2 - 2nd September 2015

Day day begins with announcements for best conference paper awards and short presentation from AVETRA to garner more members. Four awards: best paper English speaking author and best paper non-English author, plus highly commended for each category as well. Best paper English to team of four (Kira Clarke, Malgorzata Klatt, Nicky Dulfer and Emlyn Cruikshank) from University of Melbourne on school based apprenticeships and traineeships for young Australians. I win the  award for highly commended English speaking authors' paper!! Best paper non English speaking to Ursel Hauschildt (University of Bremen) on governance and financing in the dual systems and highly commended to Magnus Fjellstrom and Per Kristmansson on learning as an apprentice.

Professor Stephen Billett provides the day's keynote on 'reconciling two distinct conceptions of apprenticeship: guidance and learning'. Need to remember the learning aspect of apprenticeship, not just as a system of education. Individual's learning the main key to human development. When we learn, we remake and transform practice. Learning arises through experiences but education is the provision of experiences. Overview of how apprenticeship became a model of education through importance in preparing young people for occupations. Listed current models and characteristics of apprenticeship as educational model. Dual in Germany, Austria; 3rd space in Switzerland; school based in Sweden etc; work based in Australia, NZ;  2 + 2 in Norway and ad hoc in UK and USA. However first model is across human history, with only a very small time in human history when learning is schooled. Learning occurred through mimesis, including imitative processes and active engagement. Root of apprenticeship is 'apprehending knowledge' and learning is 'stolen' (see Downey). used China as an example of long period of innovation whereby production moved from craft to mass production without formal learning for occupations. Much not capable of being captured through declarative knowledge. Learning is embodied, need to be attuned to haptic qualities and dispositional influences etc. apprenticeships models include curriculum where apprenticeship is a way of life, deliberate access to /structuring and ordering of experiences. Curriculum models include foe learning, pathways, parallel practice and as work conditions allow. Pedagogic practices include story telling, verbalisation, pedagogically rich activities, guided learning/proximal guidance, direct instruction, indirect / distal guidance, heuristics and mnemonics, partially worked examples etc. pedagogically rich activities examples include nurses' handover, doctors' on mortality and morbidity. Personal epistemological are important, how they view themselves and how to act in their own context. Finished with reconciliations and implications for school based and work based models. Important to view apprenticeship as primarily learning supported by educational processes. 

First concurrent session with Professor Bonnie Watt from University of Alberta with 'skilled trade worker to a teacher of high school youth: a little bit of luck and a lot of courage'. Provided overview of context. Each year people with trades qualifications embark on BEd to become school teachers in area of careers and technology Studies (CTS). Used Bourdeiu's habitus as grounding concept to understand the persistence, resilience and optimism required to complete.  Social, vocational (not the same as occupational) and occupational identities involved. Need for people from non-academic backgrounds to negotiate classed occupational and educational structures. 

After morning tea, at presentation by Nicholas Wyman and Joanne George from Skilling Australia Foundation on 'associations between adaptation of German style vocational education models and impact on apprenticeship pathways in regional American labour markets'. See book Jobs U for more details - need for apprenticeships in USA. Innovative apprenticeship.org a resource on apprenticeship from Dr. Bob Lerman. Currently a prime time to revive apprenticeships in USA. Compared the capabilities which are outcomes of German vocational education system and how USA needs to ramp up quality and spread of apprenticeships to stay competitive in high technical level manufacturing e.g. Cars, machinery etc. companies have had to work with schools and communities to train to the skill levels required. 

Another presentation on informal apprenticeship with Ansa Liebenberg from MerSETA presenting on 'a quest for social justice: exploring the possibility of expanding the South African apprenticeship system to allow for informal apprentices'. South African constitution and Bill of Rights 1996 set up values for transforming society to achieve social justice and social inclusion. 20 years hence still work in progress. Challenges include high unemployment (25%), poverty, rural migration, shrinking mining and manufacturing etc. the informal sector recognised as a job creator and represents opportunity but also difficulties in corralling. To bring things together, people, policy, planet ( sustainability), profit need to work towards sustainable social justice. Need to contextualise national systems to ensure social justice goals are reached.

After lunch, a plenary session on World Skills with apprenticeship ambassadors. The panel included Troy Bennett, Jyothi Forman, Ashlee Hodson and Patrick Janes facilitated by Mark Callaghan. The theme was 'beyond the classroom: promoting apprenticeships as viable career pathways to industry and society. All panellist were members of Australian Worldskills representatives ( the skillaroos) and Australian apprenticeship ambassadors. Each presented on their pathway into work, apprenticeship / traineeship experiences and future aspirations. Great to hear viewpoints from a personable group passionate about their work and keen to promote the advantages of apprenticeship. Worldskills standards now regarded as goals to aspire to for increasing standards world wide. 

Then two papers centred around COMET (see book) with presenters from MerSETA. First up, Patricia Jacobs on 'creating pathways to enhance college to work transition using COMET.' Linked needs for 21st century conceptual age work requirements with a way of assessing the competencies. cOMET allow a range of outcomes to be recorded on spider diagrams, allowing tracking of progress as outcomes are reached. A dynamic tracing is therefore possible providing trainers and learners with information on aspects to be worked on. Conceptual age workplaces require design not just function, stories, symphony, empathy, play and meaning (Pink, 2005). Offered a rework of the traditional COMET diagram to layer on the conceptual age approaches. 

Next, Helen Brown with 'competence measurement in South Africa : teachers reactions to feedback on COMET results'. Objective to assist TVET teachers to understand their status in moving from educational to vocational pedagogy. Focus groups with 14 teachers of over 800 students, across 5 occupations. Teachers also took the test. Teachers' and students' radar graphs were compared in each occupation revealing similarities between teachers and students. Themes were teachers could not identify their best student problem solvers, there was teaching to the test, practical mastery was diluted I favour of theory and vocational identity of VET teaching was identified. Teachers recommended teacher cooperation, sustained work integrated linkages, qualification with learning design, bridging programmes, practical mastery prioritised, professional development for teachers. 

Conference closes with plenary where there are brief report backs from topic rapporteurs providing overviews and themes emerging from of presentations. Dr. Mike Brown, Professor Thomas Dissinger, Dr. Annette Foley, Dr. Bob Lerman and professor Bonnie Watt present on their highlights and learning through the conference. 

INAP conference day 1 - 1st September 2015

Last week, was at Ballarat for the bi-annual innovative apprenticeship (INAP) 2015 conference. link to conference page. Some introductory activities on the Monday afternoon with opportunity to look through the trades facilities based at the Federation University SME campus. Several brand new facilities with modern equipment. Apprentices from almost to south Australia border and east to Gippsland supported with day release, block courses and some pre trade training. In the evening a welcome session with drinks, finger food and welcome speeches from University, city leaders and region's political representatives. 

Tuesday Morning (1st September) of the first day conference dawns fine and frosty as we are bussed out to the mount Helen campus where the rest of the conference is situated. Day begins with conference opening  and a poignant welcome to country introducing the Worrarong perspectives of sustainability and the need to take care of the land for our descendants.  Professor Phillip Gonon provides background of INAP and its role. professor Erica Smith who is conference chair starts off with general introduction to facilities and programme. 

First keynote is from Senator Simon Birmingham, assistant minister of education. Spoke of revival worldwide of support for apprenticeship systems and role required into the future. Apprenticeship completions, quality of outcomes, status of apprenticeship compared to higher education and support systems to be funded for mentoring. An apprenticeship reform panel to be formed to strengthen apprenticeship systems to maximise apprentice numbers and completions (sitting at 50% for many years). Area to explore include 'incentives' to apprentices and employers, pre-apprenticeship prospects - how can they be successful? and alternative models including greater flexibility for provision and support. 

The mornings second keynote is with Paul Comyn from the international labour organising (ILO) based in Geneva. The topic is 'can traditional apprenticeships in the informal economy of least developed countries be integrated as legitimate pathways in formal skills development systems?' Or 'quality apprenticeships: can the informal become formal? Covered global apprenticeship trends, quality apprenticeship design, informal apprentices and formalising apprenticeships with examples from South Asia. Recommends need to understand how the informal system functions and progressively link the informal and informal.

After morning tea, concurrent presentations begin. First up, select a session with Phil Loveder from NCVER Australia on 'why apprentices drop out in Australia and policy implications'. Presented on importance of continuing work on trying to understand the ongoing challenge of completions. Australian completions still static 52.4% with many completers also not working in the trade on completion. Lower level quals even lower! Main reasons were personal, redundancy, job mismatch, relationship issues at work and unhappy with training. Employers contributions still important. Most apprentices leave in first Year to second year. Recommends investigation of alternative models including RPL, split on job and off job half for each, accelerate time, reduce costs to employer, early sign off allowed etc. 

Second session with  group from  University of Melbourne with Dr. Gosia Klatt and others on 'working their way to school completion, school based apprenticeships and traineeships for young Australians'. Provided overview with 20,000 young people engaged and little longitudinal evidence to gauge effectiveness. Especially no evidence school based track effective in leading to employment for dis-advantaged kids. Challenges include usual suspects - low completions, school capabilities, student readiness, objectives unclear and lack of support system. Overview of research approach and findings presented. Strong correlation between low SES and low quality levels, segregation of gender and high uptake if supported by state incentivisation. 

After lunch, I present on some of the findings from out project surface tablets. 'Improving dynamics of feedback through deploying mobile technology enhanced learning during pre-apprenticeship'. Go through rationale, projects, findings and recommendations. Emphasis on use of videos and peer feedback and role in assisting accelerated learning, feedback loop and learning of judgment to provide peer feedback. Stressed need to have confidence in staff by supporting digital literacy attainment with staff. Students also need preparation with feed back skills and digital literacy. 

Stay in the same room to attend James Canaan's from Manukau Institute of Technology presentation on 'pre-apprenticeships towards apprenticeships using practice focused learning'. 

Overview of part of PhD study, focused on understate pedagogy of practice based learning principles and styles. Investigates benefits of practice focused learning for students, employers and industry. Predominantly to look at practice based learning before and during work and in work of practice focussed learning in institutions. Automotive and electrical students form ample and Initial findings presented. 

Then paper by Professors Thomas Deissinger and Phillip Gonon on 'stakeholders in the German and Swiss systems role in innovating apprenticeship'. Applies the 'justification' approach to VET to address various issues including revitalisation of VET. Begin with description of Swiss and German VET. Employers' and trade unions' roles as key stakeholders listed and discussed e.g. The conflicts and consensus between the two. Therefore compromise required for VET policy including hybridisation of qualifications. 

Afternoon tea followed with session with Magnus Fjellstrom and Per Kristmansson from Umea University in Sweden on 'learning as an apprentice,  comparative study on affordances for vocational learning in school and work life apprentice education'. Compares employed construction apprentices (12) with business admin students (15) in upper secondary school who spent part of time at work. Based on concepts of workplace curriculum (Billett, 2001). Similarities and differences identified. Apprentices could not identify curriculum goals as they related completion of time sheets as main goal. Students were able to as they were being assessed to goals in course syllabi.  

Day closes with keynote with Raymond Patel from MerSETA, South Africa. The presentation focused on 'developing T-shaped people to comply with needs of a 21st century education, training and workplace demands'. MerSETA is the sector education and training authority for manufacturing, engineering and related services. Discussed differences between skill and  skilfulness. Presented future challenges skills development will need to meet. Global warming and impacts on social structure brought about by water shortages, social inequalities etc. Means VET has to train for a 'greener' future. Skilfulness implies nimbleness and dexterity with the ability to apply knowledge across various contexts in a lively manner. Uses Worldskills as an approach with TVET whereby international curriculum can be developed to address challenges in a holistic manner. 

Conference dinner follows back in town, closing a longish but informative day. Good to meet up with familiar international friends and meet and discuss shared interests with other apprenticeship researchers. 

coaches' eye - use in improving vocational education

We have been using coaches eye successfully (the Ipad App) for several years with hospitality students. Mainly for the improvement of skills and dispositional learning as students learn how to check in and check out guests.

This semester, we are trying coaches' eye app on surface pro tablets, with nursing students and office systems students. Nursing students to learn how to communicate with patients and other health staff using 'health' discipline protocols and office systems students learning how to chair meetings.

We have found coaches' eye to be better for skills learning rather than to improve communication skills requiring ongoing conversation.

Coaches' eye works best when there is not too much talking, and feedback is mainly on 'action'. In hospitality, the check-in / check-out process includes 'in-built' pauses in the conversational flow between receptionist and guests, allowing for aural feedback to be provided between students' activity. However, when there is a constant stream of conversation, it is much more difficult to provide oral feedback, as the oral feedback voices over the conversation between student and role play conversationalist. The pause button can be used to stop the video and offer feedback. However, there is a break in continuity in the learners' conversation and this lowers impact. Additionally, the role plays in nursing and office systems are quite long. Again, it becomes difficult to sustain attention when there are too many pauses in the feedback on a role play.

We are now working on focusing on key aspects of the role play. i e. what is the skill being practiced for each role play. Tutors then hone in on the key aspects and offer feedback only on key aspects. Meanwhile, I return to evaluating other possible video annotation tools, starting by a refreshment of work from several years back from two blogs in 2009, one on video analysis vs video annotation, the other on video analysis for multimodal discourse analysis.

The teenage brain

 Attended a short presentation with Nathan Mikaere-Wallis who is an educator with a trust, Brainwave Trust Aotearoa, set up to disseminate neuroscience research on brain development from birth to adulthood to NZ organisations.

Most of the trust’s work is focused on supporting better outcomes for young children as the bulk of brain development occurs in the first 1000 days, the first three years of life. Our brain grows by a third during the first 1000 days and the various networks in the frontal context and our efficacy to learning etc. are set up at this crucial life stage. For summary, see wiki by Nathan and podcast on National Radio on what 3 to 7 year olds should learn.

Much of the framework supporting early brain development is based on the Perry neurosequential model. More also from the childtrauma academy.

In short, our brains have evolved over millions of years. We have a brain stem(brain 1) which takes care of our physical needs to keep us alive. Then there is the brain 2 which ensures we move as it controls motion etc. Brain 3 is the limbic brain which provides us with our emotions / feelings / motivations etc. and brain 4 the neocortex, allows us to learn complex cognitive tasks like reading and writing.

Babies need dyadic attachment relationships to ensure brain development progresses well during the crucial 1000 days. We are primed to learn how to read and write at 7. During adolescence, there is a period of reconsolidation and reconstruction in the neocortex at average age of 27. Girls generally mature beyond adolescences between 18 and 24, boys between 22 and 32. The adolescence phase is theorised to exist as that is the time we have evolved to be sexually active and begin procreation. However, contemporary society is not in synch, with child birth in women now pushed well into the 30s.

Having a dyadic relationship during adolescence may assist in helping young men engage with learning. Perhaps why apprenticeship work as young men are ‘primed’ to be receptive to building a relationship with a mentor at this stage in life development.

Will need to do some reading around this area to see if there is synergy in bringing some of the concepts into my area of interest - occupational identity formation especially at the beginning of apprenticeship.

Kaleidoscope - CPIT research week

This week, we hold the annual CPIT research dissemination event. A week of presentations from staff and students with a much anticipated 'Great Debate' on Wednesday around the topic - 'Google does more for sustainability than Greenpeace'.

Today at lunch time, Kay Giles, CPIT CE opened the first session, a series of short 6 minute presentations on a range of topics from the departments.

The format actually works quite well as it provides an overview of what our research colleagues have been up to. We had presentations from Architecture (Dr. Rory Green on various projects to help make NZ homes drier and warmer); Performing Arts (Tony McCaffrey on his latest theorising of performance by people percieved to have intellectual disabilities); Design (Michael Reed on a print portfolio project and Bruce Russell on the social utility of improvised sound work); Science (Dr. Jerry Sherman on a 'survey' used to find out what works best to tailor cardiac rehabilitation and Dr. Barbara Dolamore on using gene modelling to identify camphylobactor types); Business (Dr. Juan Pellegrino on SMEs learning to move into international markets); Computing (Amit Sarkar on resilience of information systems in crisis - Chch. earthquakes); and Midwifery (Dr. Mary Kensington on the findings from the midwifery first year of practice support programme (it works); Dr. Rea Dallenbach on evaluation of OB3 - a platform for co-creative learning; Dr. Lorna Davis on resiliance).

Tomorrow, another series of  a dozen of so presentations from tutors. Students 'pitch a project' on Thursday and Friday - providing summaries of their own projects.

Always a good opportunity to celebrate the diversity at CPIT through the many perspectives brought in through the various disciplinary areas.