In this article, our team has prepared a summary of Contextualising teaching and learning – A guide for VET teachers.
In this handbook, you will find practical, ready-to-use ways to contextualize learning in a variety of “classrooms,” from an educational institution to a factory floor and online. Its primary focus is on teaching rather than assessment. Vocational Education and Training practitioners seeking to implement flexible, innovative, and learner-centered approaches to teaching and learning will find the guide helpful.
The handbook is divided into four different sections.
Section 1 – Introduction to the guide
This is the introduction section that includes some basic information related to the guide, the intended audience for the guide (e.g. VET trainers and assessors in all VET settings), the content of the guide, and a few definitions (e.g. contextualising, effective learning, strategy, and activity).
Section 2 – The underpinning principles of teaching in a context
This section includes information related to
The section starts with some clarification related to the training packages.
Training Packages focus on work standards and outcomes of learning, not the learning and teaching process.
Competency standards in the industry Training Packages are determined by the industry to meet identified industry skill needs. Workplace competency requires the ability to apply relevant skills, knowledge, and attitudes consistently over time and in the required workplace situations and environments. In line with this concept of competency, training packages focus on what is expected of a competent individual in the workplace as an outcome of learning, rather than focusing on the learning process itself.
The rules for contextualising are outlined:
Steps in Contextualisation are explained as follows:
Step 1: Be familiar with your unit/s of competency
Step 2: Get to know your learners
Step 3: Take account of the learning setting
Step 4: Develop learning activities
This section offers practical tips for teaching in different settings.
Teaching in the workplace
Use resources as needed and permission to make it comfortable for students
Teaching in a flexible mode
Combination of a Hybrid of various methods, tools etc to get the message across
In the adult learning approach section, you will find the following information:
According to adult learning principles, people learn best when learning is seen as immediately relevant
The four principles of adult learning are:
Adult learners learn best when they take an active role in their own learning.
Adult learners are generally highly motivated and keen to have a say about what they learn and how they learn
Good teaching anywhere section includes information related to
What is “Good teaching”
Good teaching
Section 3 – Teaching and learning strategies
Among the topics covered in this section are:
In section 3, you will also find learning resources to support the teaching of each learning strategy.
Section 4 – Professional development
The following aspects are covered in this section:
Our recommendation is that every trainer and assessor who is involved in VET reads this publication.