VETENTRE_IO1_Toolkit_FV

support learners in acquiring real-life entrepreneurial skills. When successful, WBL opportunities provide learners with a myriad of learning opportunities that can be transferred to their own entrepreneurial activities, including opportunities to examine their own cultural and personal blind spots that hinder their learning; and an examination of the complaints and feedback process. Collaborative Learning Methodology The educational landscape is diversifying daily, with learners from different backgrounds and experiences in each learning environment. As the landscape changes shape, educators need to collaborate and share knowledge with one another to stay alert of new trends. Collaborative Learning stems from research conducted by Lev Vygotsky during the early 1900s. Vygotsky identified that “we learn through our interactions and communications with others” (Neff, n.d.) . Collaboration enables groups of two or more learners to work together to enhance their overall knowledge. Learners can solve problems, learn new concepts or even complete new tasks through the supportive environment promoted in collaborative learning. For the successful delivery of a collaborative-based methodology within VET, educators can rely on three main educational theories, namely; (1) Bandura’s Social Learning Theory; (2) Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory; and (3) Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development. 1) Social Learning Theory During the 1970s, Albert Bandura developed the Social Learning Theory, which proposes that individuals acquire behaviour through observing others or having first-hand experience at a task (Bandura, p146). The Social Learning Theory suggests three main elements; (1) Observation, (2) Imitation, and (3) Modelling. Through observing the basic behavioural patterns of individuals, entrepreneurs can learn appropriate and inappropriate behaviours from others. Once these behaviours have been observed, learners can progress to stage two, where they begin to replicate the behaviours of others. This enables learners to reinforce their knowledge, and upon replication of the behaviour, they begin to feel pride and accomplishment. The final principle of Bandura’s Theory stipulates that these learners become educators; having learned the behaviours, they should teach them to others. The Social Learning Theory proposes that rote memorisation is also reduced when learners participate in collaborative learning methodologies. Learners develop increased accountability for their work and are provided with many options for higher-level thinking and learning, all essential for entrepreneurs. 2) Vygotsky’s Theory of Social Development Vygotsky (1934) advocated that people need to be informed to create meaning from situations. Social interaction is at the heart of his Theory of Social Development, which proposes that people acquire new skills and knowledge by engaging in conversations with others, enabling them to grow and develop.