Paper Session 4b - Evaluation and VET

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Discussions for 728 - Work-Based Learning of Students in Two Vocational Programs

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Work-based learning of students in two vocational programs - Abstract

This paper is centred on the students’ work-based learning and the progression in the complexity of a student’s tasks in the workplace from the beginning to the end of his studies. The general objective of this research consists in: Analyzing the work-based learning experiences of students in vocational and technical education programs. This general objective can be broken down into four specific objectives. My research to date allows me to address the first objective in the case of vocational students only. This objective is, namely, to describe and analyze the work-based learning experiences of students engaged in a program that includes 12 to 16 weeks of internship as part of their vocational education. This objective was attained thanks to three or four interviews held with the same students at the end of each four-week periods of work-based learning. This paper addresses the first interview with students pursuing a Diploma of Vocational Education in the Computing Support and Automotive Body Repair sectors. Data was gathered through semi-directed interviews with students at the end of their first work-based learning session. I examined the learning experience as such, as completed by students in the workplace. The study is focused on studying the progression of the complexity of the student’s tasks over the course of the session in the workplace. The analysis is based on interviews held in May and June 2004. Thus, this paper provided preliminary interpretations that address, in succession: the students’ work activities and participation in their workplace; the perceptions of the students with respect to the difficulties encountered; the learnings achieved; and the supervision received from their mentor or company employees.