Introduction

“Tricks of The Trade” refers to work procedures and concepts used by experienced persons in a particular type of work, which are difficult and unlikely to be learnt by discovery alone.

This ‘hidden’ knowledge is unique in all workplaces and is difficult to learn or refine unless modelled and demonstrated by an experienced person through collaborative learning.

The focus of this workplace learning method is to introduce the steps for an experienced worker to uncover the “tricks of the trade” to a learner.

9 Tips to Help New Employees Learn Better

1. Experienced worker identifies and select work tasks appropriate to learner’s level of competence.
2. Explain ‘hidden’ knowledge/concepts to learner.
3. Remind learner to write down the ‘hidden’ knowledge/concepts.
4. Demonstrate work procedures to learner.
5. Get learner to carry out the procedure to show understanding and remember better.
6. Help learner understand the principles behind the tricks of the trade.
7. Encourage learner to ask questions to deepen understanding.
8. Engage learner to reflect on what they have learnt.
9. Help learner to apply learning to other tasks where applicable.