Organising learning materials and activities in a work place to facilitate learning for informally trained motor vehicle mechanics

Abstract

The research is aimed at improving "How Learning Material and Activities in Action Africa Help Mechanical Workshop can be Organized Effectively to Facilitate the Learning for Informally Trained Motor Vehicle Mechanics". The paper provides an overview on some of the existing perspectives within learning of informally trained motor vehicle mechanics all based on the objectives of the study. Chapter two of the research discusses some existing academic literature concerning workplace learning; Maclure, (1997) asserts that this sector of education has been ignored for a long time in most countries. According to him, it is evident that fewer financial and human resources have been devoted to learning. It is finances that enable the heads of to acquire learning resources that are adequate in supporting skills acquisition. The study undertook an action research approach where the stake holders included instructors, mechanics, students and administrators who were involved from problem identification, implementation, follow up, evaluation and validation of findings. Many problems were identified using the future workshop as a tool through five stages. The challenges that needed urgent attention were further discussed and possible solutions were generated and implemented by stakeholders within the period of August 2016 to September 2016. The challenges identified were inadequate learning materials, and the fact that learners were not given opportunity to practice on the vehicles that came for repair in the workshop, an action work plan was designed and responsible persons to follow up during implementation were identified. Follow up meetings were conducted and finally a workshop to evaluate and validate findings with stakeholders was conducted. Both cases showed that learning in the workplace can be realized. However, learning in the workplace has special requirements that should be seriously taken into consideration. Developing special learning materials, that fits into the needs of these learners are expensive but can surely be reused in regular education. The project learned that using learning materials developed for learners in the workplace increases the authentic experience for even students in secondary education.