Real competence in any occupation
whether a person can apply and transfer learning at the workplace or
across a variety of workplaces. Therefore the most critical component
of learning in artisan development is workplace learning. During
the workplace learning process the occupational knowledge and practical
learning assimilated during the previous
step are applied in the workplace.
The artisan learner is exposed to real
life situations within the workplace including all aspects of the
artisan occupation such as work ethics, safety, responsibilities and
quality
performance of work required by industry. In all artisan trades
this is the most significant and most difficult of the various learning
processes and therefore the artisan learner
is supported in the workplace by a qualified workplace mentor, previously known as the journeyman.
These workplace mentors are qualified
and experienced artisans in the same trade the artisan learner is
registered for. In many instances there is a scarcity of these mentors
in the workplace and possible processes are being considered to
bring back retired artisans to fulfil the function of a mentor in the
workplace. The workplace learning
process known as the "on the job" learning process that allows a
learner to progressively and sequentially re-learn what he learnt in the
practical learning process but applied in a
real workplace.
During the workplace learning, the
leaner must be exposed to the entire scope of the trade as
pre-determined by the curriculum of the occupational trade qualification
to
ensure that once qualified he or she will fully be competent to
become a productive worker in the industry and will only need further
specific industry training. Many of the
current workplace learning programmes that exist in industry
today are based on historic and often outdated training schedules
developed under the Manpower Training Act.
Some programmes have been updated as
unit standard based programmes and are now delivered as Learnerships in
some sectors. The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations
in collaboration with the National Artisan Moderation Body is
progressively updating all these artisan trade workplace programmes to
become occupational based curriculum and qualifications.