Cultivating and Defining the Apprentice Mindset

Introduction

Too many young people are not aware of the great benefits that apprenticeship programs have to offer, especially concerning the relationship between apprenticeship-based successes to PSE-based success. I would like to develop a system or style of encouragement that will work to adequately motivate young adults to complete their apprenticeship programs, and then to further pursue additional PSE.

Socio-economic status (SES) advancement is made readily available to individuals who have entered apprenticeship programs (Joslin & Smith, 2013). I believe it is important that all young adults who are considering the pursuit of an apprenticeship program are made thoroughly aware of the great increases in opportunities that are associated with the further pursuit of PSE certificates, diplomas, or degrees.

I propose an Inquiry Project that attempts to best educate young adults on the benefits of pursuing an apprenticeship based learning program, while highlighting the potential for progression to further PSE. Focus will be placed on how to best frame encouragement and information towards youth that will best motivate them to pursue apprenticeships with a growth-mindset (Dweck) that is directed at continual career and lifestyle advancement.

Inquiry Questions

• How can the growth mindset (Dweck) be tied into the progression and completion of an apprenticeship program?
• Furthermore, how can the growth mindset (Dweck) be used to motivate the progression from apprenticeship-based learning to further PSE?
• What might the ideal Apprentice Mindset look like? How shall we define it?

Inquiry Purpose

To motivate individuals to pursue and complete apprenticeship programs, and other PSE programs. I believe that the pursuit of an apprenticeship program right out of high school is a fantastic way for students of a less advantageous SES to eventually access PSE that they would otherwise not have had the capital (social, cultural, or financial) required for PSE success.

Individuals stemming from both lower and higher SES upbringings have the potential to benefit greatly in their PSE capacities by engaging themselves in apprenticeship programs at a young age. Apprenticeship programs develop patience, confidence, work ethic, financial earning and planning competencies, and exposure to real life learning consequences / experiences that are all greatly beneficial to PSE success

Critical Concepts

• Encouraging / motivating students to pursue apprenticeships and PSE by cultivating Dweck’s growth mindset.
• Defining and cultivating the Apprentice Mindset
• Exploring the possibility of using apprenticeship programs as stepping stones to other PSE programs.
• Explaining the benefits of completing apprenticeship programs, and other PSE programs.

Ethical Considerations

• There is a possibility of insensitively identifying students in their SES while talking about how they could use apprenticeships, PSE, and the growth mindset to elevate their positions in society.
• There is a possibility of describing primarily typical male dominating characteristics when describing apprenticeship success and apprenticeship mindsets. For example; confidence, competition, outspokenness, toughness, grit, and so forth. As a main focal point of this inquiry project is to increase equality and equity in the trades, this will be a major concern moving forward.