-that the student is assigned tasks that contribute to his or her learning;
     -that the workplace experience is consistent with classroom learning.

The content of the practicum is not, however, imposed by the school. Tasks to be performed by trainees are determined jointly by the company and the school. The procedure for determining them depends on the purpose of the practicum.

-    When the purpose is to practise skills learned in the classroom, the school informs the company of the tasks the student is capable of performing depending on his or her stage of learning. The idea is to figure out if the company’s needs are compatible with the student’s training needs and if they can be met by a student doing a first practicum or if a more advanced student is required.

-   When the purpose is to learn part of the program of study on the job, the school proposes a list of tasks it would like the student to perform during the practicum to acquire occupational skills. Depending on its production or its needs, the company may request changes to this proposal: it may ask that certain tasks which it cannot or would prefer not to assign to students be removed from the list, or that others be added based on its production or operations.

Discussion between the school and the company leads to an agreement on the tasks the trainee will perform and the company will supervise.

The Training Plan

Once the school and the company have come to an agreement, a Training Plan listing the tasks the trainee will perform is drawn up. This plan serves as an on-the-job reference throughout the practicum for the supervisor, the trainee and the school’s practicum coordinator.