Bridging the gap between theory and practice unlocks the full potential of learning. Where theoretical knowledge provides a solid foundation, the practice-based element brings concepts to life.
In our latest webinar, Plus UTS explored the significance of bridging the gap and its transformative potential for learners and educators. Joined by an expert panel, we discuss best practice case studies, practical toolkits and frameworks, and how to embed real-world practice into L&D programs effectively.
Read a few of our highlights, or watch the complete webinar below:
Practical learning from an educator’s perspective
Theoretical proficiency is critical, but the practice-based element is as important – sometimes more.
“As an educator, we see examples of students going through our practice-based learning where they’re required to take their journey; they’re required to get hands-on and solve these problems. They’re confronted with real-world lessons about how technology works and doesn’t work,” says Dr Marc Carmichael, Senior Lecturer at the UTS School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.
“It’s valuable for me to see firsthand where the gaps are with students coming in.”
While the technical element is valuable, there’s also the non-technical benefit of practical experience.
“Soft skills, interpersonal skills… these are hard to teach,”
“When we put students into real practical projects, it forces them to talk to stakeholders, draft emails and build on these interpersonal skills. We can see real growth in the students.”
What is the best way to ensure learners gain practical skills?
The closer the learner’s experience in class mirrors their experience in a workplace, the more likely they’ll retain and recollect that learning when they go to work.
“The main idea underpinning the studio-based learning approach is that students get an immersive organisation-like experience. They learn through practice by trying things… as opposed to having a lecture,” says Professor Prabhu Sivabalan, Associate Dean and Professor of Management Accounting and Control at UTS Business School.
“When we go through practice examples, we could do it in a classroom and students can sit there nodding, versus a computer lab where the Excel file is open for each of them and we’re going through each step,”
“If we’re in labs and we’re doing it again and again, then it permeates, and they don’t forget it. The more we can mimic their work experience, the more we get there.”
How can we make learning and development better?
Professor Prabhu Sivabalan believes we can improve learning and development by prosecuting the outcome and its impact. Does it go beyond providing snippets of wisdom, and is it materially changing what people do?
“Good L&D involves not just traditional training, but higher touchpoints, repeated interactions between us and them. We try to hybridise the whole learning experience where we’ll train you and have a one-on-one with you a month after to ask how you went with the material. Did it help you? What were the barriers? If you haven’t used it, why?”
“We learn from them, help them, and keep in touch with them. We build different touchpoints at different points in time with clients and their staff so that they get a higher-quality learning experience,” Professor Sivabalan says.
“We’re not just training; we’re also coaching and helping people put it into practice; to connect the dots for them one-on-one concerning their local working environment.”
Evaluating learning and development
For Dr Carmichael, there are two ways to measure success in learning and development:
“The short-term measure of success is those ‘aha’ moments in the classroom or during the course where you see students’ eyes light up and they say, I get this idea, or I can see how I’m going to use this in my job. I try to maximise the number of times that we see those moments,”
“For the longer term – is what you’re teaching used by the learners? Is it being deployed in the workforce? Is it being used day to day? That’s a big measure of success for me.”
Watch the complete webinar below: Theory vs Practice: Embedding Real-World Practice into L&D
