In the first section of this Workplace Training and Assessment
Learner Guide, we looked at this equation to explain the components of
Workplace Training and Assessment Facilitator practice. But there’s
another factor that’s crucial to good practice―being responsive to the
needs of your learners.
The needs of your learners will influence your approach and methods
as well as the way you structure and present the subject matter.
The successful Workplace Training and Assessment Facilitator will
always be aware of acknowledging learners’ needs, in particular:
- addressing potential barriers to learning
- motivating learners
- extending learning styles
- developing learner independence
- responding to cues and feedback
- developing metacognition skills
- modelling sensitivity to diversity
- explaining new knowledge in ways that are easily understood.
TAA40104 / TED40110 Certificate IV Training and Assessment Activity: Same course, different learners
A TAFE institute general studies department runs two ‘lmprove your
reading and writing’ classes, based on the Certificates in General
Education for Adults (CGEA). One group of learners is mainly from
languages other than English backgrounds, while the members of the other
group are from English-speaking backgrounds and have been to school in
Australia. The first group members are mainly middle-aged and see their
need to develop literacy skills as due to lack of opportunities to learn
when they first arrived in Australia, even though most of them had only
minimal schooling in their country of origin.
The second group of learners is made up of people mainly in their
twenties and thirties. Many of them describe their lack of literacy
skills as a result of: ‘playing up at school’ or ‘never being into
books’. Some feel self-conscious and embarrassed about their abilities.
How would these two groups differ in terms of their needs? How would
you successfully address these needs? It may help to look back at
information about adult learning theories. You can get the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment from Line Management.