Developing domains of occupational competence: Workplaces and learner agency

Abstract

This chapter proposes occupational competence as being cast within three domains of knowledge. These are, firstly, the canonical knowledge of the occupation (i.e. what all occupational practitioners need to know, can do and value). This comprises the domain of occupational capacities required to perform competently in, secondly, particular situations (i.e. situated domain of occupational competence) and, thirdly, the personal domains that individuals come to construct, exercise and utilise to develop further these bases for this occupational performance. Although each of these three interrelated dimensions of domain-specific occupational knowledge should be elaborated, the key focus of this chapter is on the third: personal domains of knowledge. These bases are broadly equated to the generation of expertise within occupational practitioners. The description and discussion advancing these propositions are informed by examples of professional work that are used to delineate these three dimensions of domain-specific knowledge and how the individuals’ expert performance is generated and developed. This consideration of the development of competence is the central focus and contribution of this chapter, which provides some observations for its promotion. Central here is how the development of personal domains of competence is associated with the kind and range of experiences individuals have, how they learn from them and the role played by personal mediation, active mimetic learning and individuals’ personal epistemologies.