My book “Work-based learning: A blend of pedagogy and technology” has been published by VDM Verlag. It is based on my PhD research at Shell EP in the Netherlands in 2002-2005.
Synopsis
Global socio-economic changes are transforming workplaces. Organisations require employees skilled in strategic problem-solving; learning quickly in response to rapidly changing environment; working in distributed, culturally-diverse teams; building knowledge from different sources and applying it in a flexible way. The new workplace demands are in sharp contrast with the traditional ways of learning and teaching. The assumption that these highly complex skills can be learned in traditional formal learning settings focused on transferring content from experts to novices is no longer tenable. It is equally untenable that the knowledge and skills for effective performance in the workplace can be picked up from experienced peers or coaches in informal learning settings alone. New learning approaches enabling integration of the worlds of learning and work are needed. This book describes a new model for technology-enhanced work-based learning.The model aims to support managers, instructors and learning designers in organisations in devising strategy and curriculum for learning; in developing course design, evaluation and assessment processes; and in capturing and sharing good practice in learning within organisation. The model was implemented at Shell EP Netherlands. The book is addressed to researchers and practitioners in work-related and technology-enhanced learning.
Table of Contents (high level)
List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Work and Learning
1. Work-Based Learning in Organisations
Current challenges faced by organisations
1.2. Characteristics of work-based learning
Work-based learning: Link between formal and informal learning
Work-based activities as vehicles for integration of work and learning
Technology affordances
2. Activity Theory: A Holistic Framework for Work-Based Learning
2.1. Socio-cultural perspectives of learning
Activity systems
2.3. Technology-enhanced work-based learning as an activity system
for Work-Based Learning
Concretising work-based learning activity system instruments for implementation in practice
3.2. First Principles of Instruction
First Principles of Instruction extended
4 Context of the Study: Shell Exploration and Production
Shell Exploration and Production Learning and Leadership Development
4.2. Organisational needs for new forms of learning: The EP Learning Strategy
Work-based blended learning in Shell EP LLD
4.4. Technology for learning support at Shell EP LLD
Work-based learning in Shell EP LLD as an activity system
5. Investigation and Applications of the First Principles Plus Reference Model at Shell EP LLD
5.1. Methodology for investigating and applying the Reference Model
5.2. Investigations of the local elements of the Reference Model
5.3. Course scan: An instrument to measure the elements of the Reference Model
5.4. Application 1: Support for organisational learning strategy and across-course consistency
Application 2: Support for after-action reviews and reflection within a faculty
Application 3: Support for course evaluation procedures
5.7. Synthesis and guidelines
5.8. Conceptual reflections
5.9. Next steps: Capturing and sharing good practices in implementation of Reference Model
6. Design and Development of the “Work-based Learning Practices Worth Replication” Digital Repository
Design methodology and procedures
6.2. Design, development, and evaluation of the repository: First cycle
Design, development, and evaluation of the repository: Second cycle
Design, development, and evaluation of the repository: Third cycle
Conclusions
Research questions revisited
Conceptual contributions
7.3. Contributions to practice
Future research
References
Appendices
Appendix 1. Course Analysis Spreadsheet
Appendix 2. Course Scan Instrument
Appendix 3. P-310 course evaluation data
Appendix 4. Guidelines for implementation of the Reference Model
Appendix 5. WBL-PWR repository, Prototype 3, July 18, 2005
Appendix 6. Evaluation of the third prototype: Questionnaire
Charting the Labyrinths 