Considerations of Learning in the Workplace in Quebec: Pulp and Paper Students' Perspectives.

A study identified students' perspectives on quality and nature of learning achieved in a vocational program using a cooperative learning approach. The theoretical framework for analysis of the implementation of a vocational program included Lave and Wenger's (1991) concept of situated learning and the Guile and Griffiths' (2001) model of work experience. A 1997-2001 action research study focused on dynamics as collaborations between schools and businesses were implemented, including how collaboration evolves; the nature and type of collaboration in relationship to the size of organizations; and implementation of partnerships in a vocational training program. The context was a new, high-school-level vocational program to train specialized workers for the pulp and paper sector. Questionnaire and interview data indicated first experiences of cooperative education in the sector were filled with challenges that vocational centers and mills overcame; large majorities of students were satisfied with training and confident of finding a job; and the practicum was not a good example of successful integration in the pulp and paper community of practice. Mills appeared to play the role of a demonstration environment. Many students reported limited access to job operations; mills engaged in training with a focus on productivity; work supervisors saw their role mainly as adapting to the vocational centers' demands rather than being more active; and degree of work autonomy conferred on students was very variable. (YLB)