How IT workers learn in the workplace

How IT workers learn in the workplace

• Ha, Tak S. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Studies in Continuing Education, 30(2), 129-143, 2008

Routledge

2008

• D Curriculum
  • DH Adult, Lifelong & Continuing Education Programmes
• C Psychology & Learning

Research Projects Information Technology Learning Processes Foreign Countries Work Environment Learning Experience Interviews Adult Learning Educational Environment Employee Attitudes Experiential Learning Informal Education Hong Kong

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Adult Education

This paper describes a research project investigating the workplace learning experience of information technology (IT) workers in Hong Kong. The research project explored in depth the workplace learning experiences of 65 IT workers from three different work sites. It went beyond the identification of workplace learning methods and resources workers used at work by probing into the complexities of workplace learning processes and the theoretical issues of workplace learning. A qualitative approach was used, relying primarily on data collected via in-depth interviews. This paper reports that (1). IT workers found troubleshooting, project work and installation of hardware and software, the most likely contexts to produce significant learning; and that (2). the rapid pace of technological growth in the IT industry results in a different learning environment to traditional industries such as tailoring, thus raising questions about the applicability of the notion of the community of practice as proposed by Lave and Wenger. Furthermore, by probing into the processes of known workplace learning methods such as learning from colleagues and vendors, this study uncovered many interesting findings about the workplace learning experience of IT workers.
[Copyright of Studies in Continuing Education is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01580370802097728 ]

• English

Journal Articles

• 0158037X

• 10.1080/01580370802097728

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/bibs/49791877

2010-09-08