This course examines how people learn, practice, and evaluate traditional and contemporary craft techniques. Social science theories of design, embodiment, apprenticeship learning, skill, labor, expertise, and tacit knowledge are used to explore distinctions and connections among art, craft, and science. We will also discuss the commoditization of craft into market goods, collectible art, and tourism industries. Ethnographic and historical case studies include textiles, glassblowing, quilting, cheese making, industrial design, home cooking, factory and laboratory work, CAD-CAM. In-class demonstrations and hands-on craft projects will be included.

This course explores the diverse ways that people teach and learn—in different countries, in different disciplines, and in different subcultures. We will discuss how theories of learning can be applied to a variety of hands-on, in-class learning activities. We compare schooling to other forms of knowledge transmission from initiation and apprenticeship to recent innovations in online education such as MOOCs. Students will employ a range of qualitative methods in conducting original research on topics of their choice.

The aim of this unit is to develop the skills that underpin many of the tasks and activities of a digital learning designer. It will support learners as they learn how to listen actively, to capture and convey ideas and to write fluently and accurately. The unit will also cover the use of non-textual information and how image can be used to enrich and deepen communication and understanding.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Apprenticeships are a common tool for skill development and social interaction But automation, globalisation, the growing importance of the service sector, human migration, and new forms of employment like the gig economy are changing how the world does business It's not clear whether current apprenticeship systems can survive these developments New research in the International Journal of Training and Development looks at how the institution of apprenticeship has adapted to the rapidly changing economy, labour market, and education system Using this information, the work examines how the evolving world of business could disrupt apprenticeship systems or make them less relevant in the 21st century Although more empirical research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn the work offers a preliminary framework detailing the readiness of the current apprenticeship system for ‘future work’ conditions… and questions whether the necessary adaptations of apprenticeship systems might affect.."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.