By: Jason Rendshaw
Applied learning is a notion that is gathering momentum in many educational contexts around the world. But what is applied learning? In order to fully develop applied learning beyond a broad concept, it is becoming increasingly important to find ways to identify and enhance the theoretical and pedagogical underpinnings that underlie it.
This article begins with an attempt to define applied learning and then explores approaches to it from school, vocational and higher education settings both nationally here in Australia and further abroad in more international contexts. Based on this, a specific applied learning program (VCAL – the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) is explored in detail according to educational principles, historical development and the potential for it be developed further to enhance educational opportunities in the areas of personal growth, academic achievement and civic development.
