To what extent do facts of the learning environment influence apprentices' motivation and learning success?

Abstract

"The German VET system requires apprentices to learn both at a vocational school, imparting theoretical knowledge, and in a company providing the apprentice with specific professional experience. To secure learning and competence development, an apprentice's intrinsic motivation is indispensable. With regard to the company where practical training takes place, the apprentice's immediate working environment strongly affects intrinsic motivation. Data from more than 500 German apprentices training to become mechatronics fitters suggests an influence of work task design on the one hand and social environment on the other hand. Apprentices' evaluations of their tasks' diversity and complexity, their colleagues' supportive behaviour, and their trainers' competence and personal involvement significantly predicted degree of intrinsic motivation. The direct impact of the working environment on competence development turns out less pronounced." (Autorenreferat, BIBB-Doku)