The provision of work experience opportunities for students at the Canberra
Institute of Technology (CIT) is an important feature in promoting the
practical application of theory learned in the classroom. At the outset of this
study, the variety and scope of work experience programs at CIT was not
known and there were no apparent efforts to co-ordinate this activity. The
effectiveness of these programs was not known, and there were no strategies
in place to measure their worth.
The purpose of this study was to identify and describe work experience
programs, to analyse existing evaluation methods and to propose a Model of
Evaluation appropriate to the maximum number of programs.
The review of related literature resulted in the selection of Stake's
comprehensive Countenance Model (1967), chosen for its consideration of
the complexities of purpose and the wide variety of experiences which
students may encounter. A significant part of the application of Stake's
Model was the development of an Evaluation Kit for Work Experience Co-
Ordinators at CIT and the subsequent trial on the Work Placement subject of
the Certificate in Travel course in the School of Tourism and Hospitality.
Stake's Countenance Model of Evaluation appears to embody an appropriate
structure to measure the worth of programs. Recommendations for future
directions include the wider trial of the Kit in a greater number of programs to
further establish its usefulness to decision-makers, and the need to remain
alert to emerging issues and trends in work experience practice in Australia.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219390 |
| Date | January 1995 |
| Creators | Thompson, Paula, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Paula Thompson |
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