scholarly journals Stories of Learning: A Case Study of Norwegian Plumbers and Apprentices in TVET at the Construction Site and in a Training Agency

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marit Lensjø
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Dual Model ◽  
Building Structures ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Building Site ◽  
Vocational Teacher ◽  
One Year ◽  
And Training

Context: Through a dual model, based on 2 years of education in upper secondary school followed by two and a half year of apprenticeship training, Norwegian plumbing education has become an integrated part of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Competence and skills are described in national plumbing curriculum. However, there is little information on how learning and training, interaction and relations between craftsmen and apprentices take place and develops at the workplace. The objective of this article is to identify significant learning processes by studying apprentices in a training agency and in communities of plumbers at the building site. Approach: The study has an ethnographic approach, based on a combination of fieldwork and interviews with apprentices, plumbers and a vocational teacher. During one year of fieldwork I followed a group of plumbing apprentices in a training agency, and in their plumbing companies at different construction sites. As a former plumber and vocational teacher, I was able to participate as a plumber and researcher and thus I had a unique position to work along with the apprentices and plumbers. This enabled me to observe interaction, learning and training in their communities of practices as an insider.Findings: The study showed that the process of learning practical skills, a professional language and a technical rationale was time consuming, challenging and sometimes tiering. In return the apprentices discovered proficiency, gained confidence and were considered as participants in the community of plumbers. A central finding is the great value of working in a community of plumbers at the building site, combined by studying sanitary and heating technology at the training agency. Among peers at the training agency, the apprentices were challenged to build and explore complex pipe laying, and to discuss technical regulations and rationale with each other and the vocational teacher. Conclusion: Craftsmen, like plumbers, consecutively handle a variety of technical work tasks and situations. Inside practice, the plumbers are close to materials and systems on construction site, where pipes, cableways and building structures looks different from the plan and the progress on paper. As experts, the plumbers often solve problems more functional and cost effective than suggested in the blueprint. The study shows how apprentices and plumbers develop skills, tacit knowledge and professionality through involvement with relevant things and situations, and by sharing experiences and technical expertise in communities of peers and plumbers. 

scholarly journals Grounded Theory Analysis of Work-based TVET and Intersectional Challenges Between Construction Workers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marit Lensjø
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Theory Analysis ◽  
Work Tasks ◽  
Technical Theory ◽  
One Year ◽  
And Training

In this study, I examine training in the work-based part of Norwegian technical vocational education and training (TVET). The TVET model includes two years in school followed by two years of apprenticeship at an authorized training enterprise. The empirical findings are based on one year of fieldwork combined with interviews, while following communities of plumbers and apprentices on construction sites and at a training agency. The article describes how work tasks and training on the construction site are continued and elaborated at the training agency, where technical theory and drawing are intertwined in practical plumbing. Over the past two decades, Norway has welcomed a significant number of eastern European migrant workers. Construction is among the industries most affected. This study explores how plumbers negotiate work and training at the intersection with dominant groups of foreign construction workers.

Using E-Book for Learning

2011 ◽  
pp. 1120-1125
Author(s):  
K. C. Chu ◽  
Queendy Lam
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Education Reform ◽  
Vocational Education ◽  
Education System ◽  
Vocational Training ◽  
Technical Education ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
And Training

The vocational education system in Hong Kong is seen as changing in step with the development in industry (O & Chu, 2003). At the beginning of the ’50s until the late ’60s, Hong Kong was an entrepôt trade economy. However, skills and technology transferred from Shanghai, a steady immigration came from Guangdong, and increasing amounts of local investment had promoted Hong Kong‘s industrial foundation. By the early ’50s, the Education Department of Hong Kong began to recognize “the increasing importance of Hong Kong as a manufacturing and industrial center,” and time and effort were being devoted to the development of technical education. During this period of time, we witnessed the building of a vocational school (1953) and technical college (1957); they had aimed at providing vocational education and training for post-Form 3 and -Form 5 leavers. Successful textile manufacturing, followed by new international investments in other infant industries including electronics through the 1960s and 1970s contributed to the socialization of the workforce. By the early 1960s, there was a widely recognized link between industry and technical education. By the mid-1970s, education discourse and documents professed the need to increase the proportion of the curriculum devoted to “practical education” in general secondary schools (White Paper: Secondary Education in Hong Kong over the Next Decade, 1974). Government land sales, efficient infrastructure planning, and the setting up of the economic zones in China all had contributed to a growth rate averaging 10% each year throughout the 1980s and the early 1990s; these achievements had further improved the investment climate. During this period of time, Hong Kong further expanded technical education at the tertiary level. The link between vocational education and training, and the newer infrastructure and high-technology-related forms of industrialization were clearly outlined in the Report of the Advisory Committee on Diversification of the Economy in 1979. All these changes in the economic environment had been well served by the corresponding changes in the vocational education system as evidenced by the rapid and high economic growth in the ’70s, ’80s, and the early ’90s. The VTC (Vocational Training Council) was established in 1982 under the Vocational Training Council Ordinance to provide and promote a cost-effective and comprehensive system of vocational education and training to meet the needs of the economy. Under VTC, preemployment and in-service education and training are provided by the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), VTC School of Business and Information Systems (SBI) and its training and development centers. The mission of VTC is to provide cost-effective alternative routes and flexible pathways for school leavers and adult learners to acquire skills and knowledge for lifelong learning and enhanced employability (VTC, 2004). Since the late ’90s, the volatile employment market, declining industry, and desire to become a knowledge-based society have triggered yet another education reform. Two important documents have been published by the Hong Kong government to paint out the education reform and the blueprint for the education system in Hong Kong for the 21st century: Reform Proposals for the Education System in Hong Kong by the Education Commission (2000), and the Report on Higher Education in Hong Kong by Chairman Lord S. R. Sutherland (2002) of the University Grant Committee. In response to the Sutherland report (2002), the Vocational Training Council formulated a strategic plan for the change. The plan is to increase e-learning within the VTC to • promote an e-learning culture and to identify teaching staff who make effective use of the Web for teaching, • encourage staffs to build a learning community on their Web sites, • encourage staffs to provide students with an active Web site, and • encourage staffs to conduct virtual (online) tutorials and virtual help desks.

scholarly journals SAFETY AND HEALTH SITE INSPECTIONS FOR ON-FIELD RISK ANALYSIS AND TRAINING

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco L. Trani ◽  
Luca Beretta ◽  
Giada Nicolini ◽  
Manuele Cassano
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Risk Environment ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Site Analysis ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Back Office ◽  
And Training ◽  
Site Training

The field of construction is always affected by a large number of accidents at work that have many different causes and responsible. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to focus on all these issues, in order to reduce all risk factors that can undermine individuals’ safety on building sites. The objective of the research is then the development of a method for quick on site analysis of all critical issues that can create accidents and identification of the related causes in order to directly provide a correct and focused training identified as the best method to act on the causes to reduce accidents. The research was carried on during construction of the Universal Exhibition of Milan – Expo 2015 – that counted almost 70 contemporary construction sites. To reach the goals further research steps has been followed and in particular: (i) inspections on building sites through all the Expo area; (ii) analysis of the main identified problems; (iii) development of a methodology to quickly identify the cause of problems; (iv) validation of the method through back office analysis of site documents; (v) correct on-site training according to found problem. During the whole construction site, the improvements in criticalities solving have been visible thanks to the focused training. The developed method, carried on in a high-risk environment, is applicable in any other building sites and environment as independent from the boundary conditions of the place.

scholarly journals The relevance of dual model of TVET system for the developing world

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-315
Author(s):  
Abhishek Abhishek
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Vocational Education ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Training System ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Dual Model ◽  
Global Value Chain ◽  
And Training

Under the Global Production Networks (GPN) / Global Value Chain (GVCs), the MNCs usually locate their units in accordance with the skill of the labour force which they get. If some of the Asian countries managed to attract huge amount of foreign direct investment, initially in labour-intensive manufacturing and then in other sectors, moving up the global value chain. It is because their education in general and Technical and Vocational Education and Training system in particular was well-suited at the time. As, for developing countries, skilling at a mass-level will not only help to attract Foreign Direct Investments by increasing the productivity of the labour force but also to mitigate inequality and reduce poverty as it will up to an extent solve the crisis of employability. For the developing countries the dual-corporatist, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system of Germany offers so many things to learn. The paper which is divided in three parts argues that, instead of having the wages as low as possible and engaging in a race to bottom, a country with a well-functioning TVET system can make itself a favourite manufacturing destination. The first part of the paper looks at the opportunities provided by GPNs/GVCs to developing countries and the issue of skills. The second part of the paper gives a brief account of the German TVET system. The last part of the paper highlights some of the lesson which the developing countries can draw from the German model.

scholarly journals Vocational Student Teachers’ Self-Reported Experiences in Creating ePortfolios

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Maria Korhonen ◽  
Sanna Ruhalahti ◽  
Minna Lakkala ◽  
Marjaana Veermans
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Learning Objectives ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Vocational Teachers ◽  
Vocational Student ◽  
Vocational Teacher ◽  
Working Practices ◽  
And Training

Context: The context of the study is vocational teacher education and the participants are vocational student teachers. They are studying in a blended learning setting as part time students. They represent several disciplines of vocational education and training. The vocational teacher studies take one year and are 60 credits. The study relates to the discussion of vocational education and training (VET) and teachers’ competencies that they are transferring to their VET students by sharing the knowledge of their subject area and working practices. This study is an exploration of one of these working practices: making competence visible in a digital format.Approach: Student teachers’ descriptions of their practices and recommendations of supportive methods for composing an ePortfolio are reviewed and their motivation to compose an ePortfolio is studied as a part of the personal learning environment (PLE) philosophy.Findings: The data revealed some typical practices, such as composing an ePortfolio (the most popular ways of doing this were recording reflections in a learning diary and using digital tools to document artefacts) and making vocational teachers’ competence visible through an ePortfolio (understanding the difference between workspace and showcase portfolios and what kinds of competence to document). The recommendations mentioned by participants were supportive methods of composing an ePortfolio (collaborative learning processes with peers, lecturers’ feedback and assessment and clear instructions) as well as methods of making vocational teachers’ competence visible (e.g. orientation to ePortfolio work using learning objectives and assessment criteria for ePortfolios). Participating student teachers are/were motivated to work with ePortfolios in various ways and expressed an intrinsic motivation to pursue personal growth and become a vocational teacher.Conclusions: The study revealed vocational student teachers’ various perceptions of scaffolding and motivational orientations to make their competence visible through ePortfolios. These can be used to design scaffolding processes to support students’ ePortfolio activities. ePortfolios are used as a study method to promote student teachers’ career development and personal growth and to help them acquire teacher competencies. The study concludes with a review of the learning objectives and the assessment criteria for the ePortfolio process in a vocational teacher education program.

scholarly journals Are workers in construction sites of Mangalore city healthy? a cross-sectional study

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 1122
Author(s):  
Utsav Raj ◽  
Pracheth R. ◽  
Nischith K. R.
Keyword(s):  
Health Facility ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Skin Diseases ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
One Year ◽  
Study Participants

Background: Construction site workers are prone to develop health problems due to poor living conditions. This is magnified by lack of timely access to health care. Thus, we sought to explore the health status of construction site workers.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in construction sites located in an urban area of Mangalore, from September to November, 2015 among workers aged ≥18 years, with consent. Information was obtained through a pre-designed, pre-tested interview schedule.Results: A total of 178 individuals participated in the study, which included 160 (89.80%) males. Majority, (80.80%), stated that they had experienced fever at least once in the past one year. Other major complaints were blocked nose (17.40%), followed by skin diseases (12.70%) and cough which was present in 12.30%. When the study participants had an illness, 65.70% visited a health facility. Majority (82.50%) preferred private doctors, 62.50% visited the doctor so that they could work better and earn more, and 37.0% were unable to afford the treatment due to high treatment cost.Conclusions: The most common health complaint was found to be fever. Nearly half of the study participants had illness which required treatment in the last one year. More than half visited a health facility when ill. A high proportion (82.50%) preferred private health facility.

scholarly journals 3D AND 4D MODELLING IN BUILDING SITE WORKING CONTROL

2019 ◽  
Vol XLII-2/W9 ◽  
pp. 441-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lucarelli ◽  
E. Laurini ◽  
P. De Berardinis
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Building Site ◽  
Historic Building ◽  
Historic Center ◽  
Building Process ◽  
Detailed Level ◽  
Automated Processes

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> The purpose of this contribution is to describe the use of the HBIM method for the management of the restoration building site applied to a historic building in the heart of the historic center of L'Aquila. The construction is located in a densely constructed area and it is characterized by a high spatial complexity with various types of limitations including: small external and internal spaces and interferences due to neighboring construction sites. The proposed method involves a particularly detailed organization of the construction site, simultaneously planning both the development of the working and the safety in order to have more transparency and more control of the information shared among stakeholders. This method consists in planning the Gantt diagram from general to detailed level, according to certain parameters that will be cross-examined and checked regurarly. A screening step has been carried out regarding the current situation, the proceedings to be undertaken and the stakeholders to be included. Thank to this, it has been possible to have automated processes to control not only geometrical interferences but also the ones related to the completion of the work in the interest of enhancing the risk management. Due to a 3D and 4D BIM modelling, there are been found advanced layouts and some timeliners that have allowed a rigourus control of the building process, particularly in the case of precise working and potencial changes that are common in building sites of this type.</p>

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