:
CAKE session no. 2
”Learning and experience”
Objective
In previous surveys, we have concluded that our system for on-site education may not be good enough. We do not know that they are actually bad. Still we believe that we need a more robust system for educating personnel on-site.
This CAKE session focuses on on-site learning. The formal expression is learning by experience. The objective of this CAKE session is that everyone reflects on what it means to be a good buddy / instructor, also, what it means to be a good student.
Agenda
- Introduction
- Presentation of work shop
- Work shop
Introduction, This far …
Our two first CAKE sessions are over, and we are proud to present the third. We keep the form that we have established. It does not mean that we have fully developed CAKE sessions. We need your input on how to develop the concept further.
We like everyone to reflect on how to improve and expand CAKE sessions – and other CAKE activities. Send an e-mail
CAKE information
We have to grand projects going on. Developing our Safety Tool Box and developing our new buddy system.
Safety Tool Box is a system for making our safety tools uniform. We are not satisfied with today’s situation where we have different tools on different rigs, and that some rigs have tools that others do not. The toolbox work will be concluded by turn of the year.
Our new buddy system will make sure that education keeps the expected quality, and that we do not miss essential knowledge. We will examine the Buddy role and present it with the status we think it deserves.
This CAKE session will be used as input for our new buddy system.
Introduction towork shop
We like to arrange departmental workshops. CAKE group can off course chose otherwise. CAKE group must also decide whether the work shop introduction are presented in large group, or by line manager in the actual workshop. Below is a description of the slides in the presentation. Make sure that workshop leaders read this manual.
Learning by experience
Learning by experience (confluent pedagogy) is one of several ways of transporting knowledge. It is particularly suited for on-the-job training because it is practical and task centered, not theoretical. We have decided to understand ‘Learning by experience’ as ‘Learning by doing’.
Learning by doing is an important tool in job training. It is even more central in Maersk Contractors, since it is decided that large parts of all training should be carried out on-site.
Experience is our key word. Experience is both our tool and our product. This is because we know that new experiences and new skills that are connected to old experiences and skills, ‘sticks’ much better.
Learning by experience – the process
Learning by experience is four-step process. It is a continuing process. It has to be repeated several times until the student is qualified.
1. Exploration
In this stage, the student is presented for the new task, either by observing or by being told. Student tries to connect the new task to existing knowledge in order to find out if he knows how to do this or not.
It is important that the student get opportunities to ask. It is by asking that he try to fill in the holes in his experience and knowledge. An instructor’s main task in this stage is to answer and not only assume what information the student needs.
2. Planning
This stage is where the student plans how he intends to solve the task.
This is where he combines what he has observed and being told with his existing knowledge and skills.
3. Action
In stage 3, the student carries out whole or parts of the task. It is important that qualified personnel monitor. In some instances, the student will make mistakes and it is the instructor’s responsibility to decide if these are mistakes that ‘can be allowed’.
4. Collecting experience
In this stage, the student collects his experiences with this new task. This is where he evaluates himself and tries to close the gap between old and new knowledge. It is important that other personnel give him feedback in this situation.
What is demanded from an instructor?
We will all be instructing people. Either because we are formalised as buddies or because we have skills that others need. The instructor’s job is to make sure that the learning process is carried out safely, and that the student uses correct knowledge.
The instructor must assure that the student does not receive and use ‘false knowledge’. Sometimes we use methods and habits that strictly speaking are not according to official practice. We do not want to give away bad habits.
A good instructor let the student follow the student’s tempo. We do that by supporting and listening.
Work Shop
In this workshop, we wish to use participants’ experiences both as instructors and as students. The two initial questions is a discussion on own experiences. Group leader’s task is to let everyone participate in the discussion.
The last task is a ‘hand in exercise’. It means that we need practical input on how to develop our new buddy system. Group leader write down the input and send them to unit’s hse-coordinator.
1