In 2010, Richard W. Leblanc outlined ten characteristics of good teaching. While originally framed in an academic context, the principles translate powerfully into workplace learning, apprenticeships, and vocational assessment.
Many Assessors and Tutors don’t think of themselves as teachers – if you think about what a teacher is – someone who facilitates learning, helps others gain knowledge, stretches and challenges thinking, provides feedback that improves performance, and models professional standards, then assessors and tutors are teachers every day of the week!
In work-based learning, “good teaching” happens:
- During a progress review
- On the workshop floor
- In a professional discussion
- In feedback after an observation
We’ve chosen five of Leblanc’s principles, and applied them to teaching, training and assessing in the workplace, to help you improve your teaching practice.
1. Good Teaching Is as Much About Passion as It Is About Reason
When you speak with genuine enthusiasm about your sector – whether is construction, health care, engineering or leadership – learners see that you value the profession. This helps to motivate and engage learners. Your passion for your subject can be caught!
When vocational educators have pride in their industry, it helps learners develop their own professional identity – it gives them something to be proud of as well.
Passion doesn’t mean being loud, or theatrical; it means that you believe in the value of your subject.
It also helps when times get tough – e.g. meeting deadlines – your passion for your subject can help drive you and your learners on!
2. Good Teaching Is About Substance
Work-based learning must be meaningful and relevant. Good assessors don’t just “get the evidence signed off” – it’s not just a tick box exercise – it’s about ensuring that learners have the right knowledge and are competent to do their jobs.
It is about ensuring that learners understand:
- The importance of meeting, or exceeding standards
- About producing high quality work
- How theory connects to workplace performance
- What competence really looks like
Substance means depth, not just compliance.
3. Good Teaching Is About Listening, Questioning and Being Responsive
Assessment conversations should be two-way discussions – have a coaching conversation with your learners – it’s not just all about telling…
Work-based practitioners should:
- Listen actively
- Use a range of questioning techniques – probing, open or clarifying questions
- Adapting your techniques when learners struggle to take in information
- Give learners the time to think and respond
This is particularly powerful in professional discussions, where questioning skills determine the quality of evidence gathered.
4. Good Teaching Is Not Always About Having a Fixed Agenda
Workplace learning is unpredictable. A learner might arrive at a review with:
- New tasks that have to be completed that day
- A safeguarding concern
- A workplace conflict
- A sudden dip in confidence
We always have to plan for work-based assessments, but we should also be ready to adapt those plans to meet the needs of our learners and employers.
5. At the End of the Day, Good Teaching Is About Having Fun
Learning in the workplace should not feel like a compliance exercise.
When learners:
- Enjoy review discussions
- Feel proud of their progress
- See value in reflection
… they engage more deeply.
Enjoyment builds motivation, which in turn will lead to achievement.
Final Reflection
Good teaching in the workplace is not about slides or lesson plans. It is about conversations, challenge, and care.
Whether you are delivering training, conducting observations, or carrying out professional discussions, the principles remain the same:
- Be passionate.
- Be prepared.
- Be responsive.
- Be human.
Because in work-based learning, good teaching doesn’t just help someone pass — it helps them grow.
If you’d like to improve your teaching and training skills so that you can improve your confidence, make your take your professional practice to the next level, join us for the next Certificate in Education and Training Level 4 course.
Click here for the full 10 Good Teaching Tips by Leblanc
