Examining the existing pedagogical approaches to enhance students' practical competence in the wood working department at Nakawa vocational training institute

Abstract

This study thus set out to enhance the current pedagogical approaches to improve the students' practical competence in the Wood Working Department at Nakawa Vocational Training Institute. A participatory Action Research Model was used to carry out this study collecting qualitative data from 32 participants referred to as stakeholders consisting of students, Instructors, representatives from the world of work, the institutes administration and development pa11ners. The situation analysis, future workshop and focused group meetings provided descriptive data and meanwhile all stages of the research were recorded and interpreted. Content analysis was used to present findings. Respondents revealed that the machine course was done using the integrated method of teaching. This is a method that was adopted during the implementation of the machine course where the teacher gave theory within the execution time of the practical tasks in such a way that there was no designated time for theory and practical but both were done concurrently. It resulted into swift development of practical skills to operate and maintain machines using the available materials. The success of the machine course and industrial visits relied heavily on the team work that was developed into all the stakeholders.