Metro Magazine, August 2018
44 mETRO mAGAZINE AUGUST 2018 metro magazine com GRTC The use of apprenticeships to transfer skills from one generation to the next dates back to ancient Egypt Rome and Greece In early America the practice of training younger workers through apprenticeship was carried over from England and other European countries where master craftspeople worked side by side with apprentices When apprentices achieved the status of craft workers they became accepted as highly regarded members of society Times have changed Gone are the negative aspects of this traditional form of learning where apprentices became indentured to serve a master without compensation for several years in exchange Apprenticeships Help Relieve Transportations Technician Shortagesfor learning a trade Unfortunately some positive aspects of apprenticeship have also diminished such as the time tested process of learning by doing the hallmark of an apprenticeship program Too many instructors have replaced hands on learning with PowerPoint presentations somehow believing that three days of lecture will somehow translate into the ability to tune an engine or adjust doors Classroom instruction certainly has its place but is ineffective when done in excess Theres an old adage that applies to technical training Teach me I forget Show me I remember Engage me I understand Apprenticeship strengthens classroom training by engaging students taking what was learned in the classroom and applying it directly to specific job tasks In an effort to revitalize apprenticeships the Department of Labor DOL in 2015 awarded American Apprenticeship Grants to 46 public private partnerships The winning grantees will train and hire more than 34000 new apprentices in industries such as health care IT and public transportation The Transportation Learning Center was selected to develop and implement registered apprenticeship programs in five transit occupations including transit coach operator rail vehicle maintenance rail signals maintenance transit elevator escalator mainteApprenticeships strengthen classroom training by engaging students taking what was learned in the classroom and applying it directly to specific job tasks BY JOHN SCHIAVONE
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