Ch. 7: Apprenticeship

Concept and brief description:

Apprenticeship is a work-study training method that teaches job skills through a combination of structured on-the-job training and classroom training. The apprentice assists the certified trades-person at the work site. It is a great training method because it is hands on learning and you get extensive practice. In addition, you have an opportunity to earn an income while learning a trade.

Emotional hook (provocative question/ claim/real-life problem):

In Japan apprenticeship is really the only way of training. A person decides what they want to do and then they spend years being trained by a certified trades-person. They are an apprentice until the certified trades-person dies. Then the apprentice takes over, having had extensive on the job training and continues the business. The person stays in the job pretty much their entire life. Jobs are more of an art and a lifestyle.

Key points to elicit in discussion:

I think apprenticeship is an amazing way to train employees. The best way for a person to learn is to do hands on training. Anyone can sit in a classroom and spit back what they are told, but you are able to see what a person is really capable of once they are actually doing something. Apprenticeship is a better way of training for a company, especially work such as plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work. You want employees who know what they are doing and hands on work is the best way to teach them.

Facilitative questions:

How would you feel if after just a few days of classroom training you were asked to go fix a major electrical problem?