Trainers Methodology Hub: Industry Training Monitoring Tools

In my past blog, I had discussed the methods of developing an Industry Based Training Plan. For our next topic, I will cover an important part of Industry based training, which are methods of monitoring Industry based training.

Importance of Industry Training Monitoring Tools

The Supervised Work Based Learning - Competency Based Learning Material (SWBL-CBLM) defines monitoring as "... the routine assessment of ongoing activities and progress. It is the systematic and continuous assessment of the progress of a piece of work over time. It is a basic and universal management tool for identifying strengths and weaknesses in a program. Its purpose is to help all the people involved make appropriate and timely decisions that will improve the quality of the work."

It further emphasizes that " It is the primary role of the trainer to monitor the training. This is to ensure that trainees would attain the required competency at the end of the training program for them to be ready for the assessment."

With these, there is indeed a need of having the necessary tools to ensure that proper monitoring of our trainees undergoing Industry training is properly monitored and training is adjusted as needed as different situations may arise during the training it self.

Monitoring Tools

The SWBL-CBLM suggest that aside from the training plan that can also serve as a form of monitoring tool, there are two more tolls that a certified Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Trainer can utilized to monitor the Industry based training that his/her trainee is undergoing, these are the:

Trainees Record Book (TRB); and
Trainees Progress Sheet (TPS).

Trainees Record Book (TRB)

The SWBL-CBLM explains that the TRB is the record "that must be kept by the trainee throughout the training and given to the trainer/industry trainer or supervisor, when requested, for inspection and to have entries updated, on a regular basis."

Further it states that "this is a record of all training activities undergone by the individual trainee based on the training plan. The TRB should contain the activities in the Training Plan. Each trainee should keep his own TRB and lets the supervisor affix his signature everyday so that all activities are monitored by the supervisor and are recorded in the TRB."

Aside from the above mentioned uses, the SWBL-CBLM also states the other possible usage of the the TRB, and these are to:

Show to employers the training you have completed;
Gain credits or exemptions in other training courses;
Serves as reference in preparing for future job applications;
Determine your competency level thereby supporting eligibility for wage progression;
Confirm completion of the training program and your eligibility for the issuance of training certificate; and
Assess your skill levels should competency be the subject of dispute between you and your employee.

Although the TRB as presented here is considered to be an example of a possible industry training monitoring tool, it is a required document for your portfolio when you are to undergo the TM National Assessment.

Because of this you as a current TM Trainee is therefore required to develop one that you can utilized in the future, with this in mind, the SWBL-CBLM suggest that "In preparing the TRB, it may be more difficult to be preparing different TRB per trainee. It is therefore recommended that you prepare one TRB for your qualification then copy the activities required of individual trainees from the training plan of each trainee."

Trainees Progress Sheet (TPS)

Another monitoring document that a Trainer can utilized when it comes to Industry Based Training is the TPS.

The SWBL-CBLM explains that the TPS is used for the monitoring "of individuals accomplishments as per training plan. This is accomplished by the training supervisor and is monitored by the trainer or the industry coordinator of the training institution. Data on the progress sheet should summarize the data in the
Trainees Record Book."

The TRB is owned by the trainee, it contains all the activities and competencies that the trainee were able to achieve during the industry training, the TPS, however, is the record that the trainer keeps that the trainer can eventually use as part of the pieces of evidence needed in determining if the required competency of the given qualification has been achieved.

In my next topic, I will covering the development and usage of the TRB and TPS, until then, cheers!

Should you have additional information, comments and suggestions, feel free to comment bellow.

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