Developing Practice Capability : Transforming Workplace Learning

Developing Practice Capability: Transforming Workplace Learning explores a Crucible Model for Professional Development as a means for better understanding workplace learning as a place for capability development. Professional practice is presented as a dynamic phenomenon that is embedded in practice contexts, embodied in and transformed through individual performances and ethically grounded. Workplace learning is examined in relation to development of a broad range of capabilities including qualities, judgement and potential for ethical action. The potential of the Crucible Model to enhance workplace learning is explored and narratives of professional practice capability development in action are provided. The discussions generate a range of implications and recommendations for workplace learning relevant to workplace learning educators and supervisors, academic educators, practitioners and students This book focuses on professional practice capability development in workplace contexts. It is built around the idea of workplace learning spaces being like crucibles in which many human, material and ephemeral factors are brought together through interactive exchanges of purpose and energy. A Crucible Model for Professional Development is presented and explored as a means for better understanding workplace learning as a place and vehicle for learning for professional practice. The power and potential for such learning spaces resembles the power of the apparently simple bowl of a crucible. However, when combined with the fire of enthusiasm for learning and teaching, and the rich learning resources and opportunities these settings can provide, the resultant catalytic reactions of professional growth and development can be both rewarding and outstanding. This book challenges contemporary models of workplace learning and their ability to develop a broad range of professional practice capabilities. The authors examine the nature and context of workplace learning in relation to capability development, explore the potential of the Crucible Model to enhance workplace learning and provide narratives of professional practice capability development in action. The discussions generate a range of implications and recommendations for workplace learning and capability development relevant to workplace learning educators and supervisors, academic educators, practitioners, students and those with the power to shape the future direction of workplace learning for professional practice. We invite you as readers of this book to consider the themes we have presented to reflect on your own experiences (whether as a student, workplace learning educator/supervisor, academic educator or a practitioner seeking to enhance your own capability development) to re-imagine workplace learning pedagogy and in so doing harness the potency of workplace learning experiences to develop professional practitioners capable of flourishing in and constructively contributing to 21st Century professional practice contexts. This book explores a Crucible Model for Professional Development as a means for better understanding workplace learning as a place for capability development. Professional practice is presented as a dynamic phenomenon that is embedded in practice contexts, embodied in and transformed through individual performances and ethically grounded. Workplace learning is examined in relation to development of a broad range of capabilities including qualities, judgement and potential for ethical action. The potential of the Crucible Model to enhance workplace learning is explored and narratives of professional practice capability development in action are provided. The discussions generate a range of implications and recommendations for workplace learning relevant to workplace learning educators and supervisors, academic educators, practitioners and students