Preparing Your Trainers and Assessors to Develop Tomorrow's Apprentices
2 January 2013
"It is the hallmark of creative and effective teachers that they make the education learner-centric and active."
The Richards Review (2012) highlights the vital importance of competent teachers and assessors who can develop our future apprentices so that they meet the requirements of employers in a changing economy.
Not only should teachers put individual learner needs centre stage, but they should also embrace new technologies in delivery of their teaching.
The review goes on to specifically point out that training organisations should be "developing new and much more effective ways of developing the capabilities of those they teach."
So how will you as an individual trainer or training organisation ensure that you are prepared for these challenges?
At University of Derby Corporate we have drawn on our extensive experience in developing work based learning programmes for corporate clients to develop a framework of qualifications to support work based trainers, tutors and assessors involved in supporting the progression of apprentices. These qualifications also acknowledge the Government's intention to increase the number of Higher Apprentices and the implied requirement for trainers and assessors to enhance their own skills in higher level learning.
Our research indicates that there is a broad gap in the marketplace for a qualification that spans the work based learning field, incorporating tutoring, training, assessing, facilitation and blended learning activities - with a true work based learning focus. There seems to be no real professional identity on a par with teachers for example.
There are many people in the workplace who are technically and professionally competent in their own field, and who are being increasingly asked to support others in their learning process - often without the necessary support in terms of what this means and how to do it.
Professional Development for Work Based Learning Practitioners level 4 and 5 qualifications focus on key areas of competency development as identified through extensive consultation with individuals, companies and training organisations. Topics covered include:
- facilitating learning at work
- blended learning tools and techniques
- mentoring and guidance skills
- integrated workplace assessment
- using new technologies.
Delegates study part time, applying everything they learn to their workplace context through practical activities and assignments.
If you're an organisation with a group of 15 or more trainers we can run the programme specifically for you, contextualising the content to your organisation and arranging teaching sessions to fit your schedule.
For more information about this flexible work based learning programme and how it can benefit you or your organisation, visit www.derby.ac.uk/wbl-practitioners or call 0800 678 3311.
