Reading across Workplace Learning Research to Build Dialogue

The field of workplace learning scholarship in Western countries is reviewed. First, the emergence of workplace learning scholarship is discussed historically for its relation to the emergence and ongoing development of capitalism beginning from early thought on markets and productivity, 20th century scientific management, industrialism and post-industrialism theses, and finally contemporary conceptual and disciplinary expansion and the conditions of globalization under late capitalism. Following this, six thematic clusters of research are discussed in relation to key scholars, their primary contributions and the ways that each can, potentially, inform those working in other areas of workplace learning scholarship. These thematic clusters include the following: i. cognition, expertise, and the individual;ii. micro-interaction, cognition, and communication;iii. mediated practice and participation;iv. meaning, identity, and organization life;v. authority, conflict, and control;and vi. competitiveness and knowledge management. It is concluded that no single thematic cluster has established predominance, and that there is a strong tendency toward isolation or balkanization of research interests (thematically, nationally, linguistically, etc.) despite a variety of parallel and/or mutually informing interests.

Bandura’s Social Learning Theory and Its Importance in the Organizational Psychology Context

This systematic review is focused on the importance of the Bandura Social Cognitive Theory and its theoretical components such as self-efficacy in workplace of today.The themes have been described through the course of the decades.These theories have been utilized heavily in research and real-life case studies,have been further developed by Bandura and other researchers,and have been implemented in organizational psychology.During the past 10 years they have helped in reshaping Human Resources Development.Major latest contributions and applications are discussed touching even the recent outbreak of the pandemic.The influence of the theory is immense and the importance of self-efficacy in the workplace has been addressed and proven by research.

Professional Learning between Past Experience and Future Work

This paper deals with the professionalization of human service work. It analyses learning processes and identity development in the emerging profession of child care with concrete examples from empirical research, based on a life history approach. It discusses examples of careers mainly based on students’ life experience, pointing out that their immediate success in the workplace may inhibit an even better qualification they had been spurred to critical reflection. It further follows a sample of students through their theoretical education and trainee periods, illuminating their changing identification with and understanding of their future work, and their learning of professional knowledge and competences. The conclusion is that the new 3.5 year education in child care pedagogy clearly improves the professional competences of child care, but it also identifies a set of further specific challenges to be met for the development of real professional competences.