05/02/2024
5th Feb - 11th Feb is National Apprenticeship Week; the theme is Skills for Life, and we are never too old to learn. So, whether you are the one in the apprentice chair or the one who doing the teaching, we bring you five easy ways to help you and your apprentice learn.
1. There is an old Aristotle quote:
a. Tell them what you are going to tell them,
b. Tell them!
c. Tell them what you’ve just told them.
Apply this whenever you teach someone a new skill. People rarely absorb new information in one go!
2. The language you use is important and can make the difference between a learner feeling like part of your team or not. Use inclusive language such as our, us, and we. For example, 'What can we learn from this?' rather than' What can you learn from this?'
3. Your learners should never be afraid to make mistakes. If we are not making mistakes, we are not learning enough. Mistakes are a learning mechanism. The only time to worry is if the same mistake is being made over and over. Then, it’s time for you to consider a better method of communication.
4. Remember you are both on a learning curve; even if you have had apprentices through your doors many times before, each one is different, and there is no one rule that will apply to all. Take time to get to know your apprentice’s best method of learning. Are they a person who learns better through questions and answers (auditory learning style), will they learn better through reading literature and looking at diagrams (visual learning style) or is a hands-on approach the best for them (tactile learning style)? Often, a combination of learning styles is the best way.
5. Always ask open-ended questions that require your apprentice to explain their answers. This can help you gauge how much they understand and whether they need more information or help.
Remember to praise when they succeed and provide more support when they struggle. Few things are more satisfying than teaching new skills to a learner.
To find out more: https://t.co/vmeS2biIQJ
