Two good practice documents suggest ways to examine and define your own good practice: Steel et. al., (1997) give some general directions for engaging with good practice ideas; and, the 1995 national think tank report concludes with suggestions for developing your own process.

In their article, “Towards a Framework for Good Practice,” Steel et. al., begin by saying that good practice evolves out of discussions, decisions and work with companies, unions, employees and other partners in developing workplace education activities. They suggest writing down the principles or guidelines which have developed throughout a project that reflect the collective experience. This document can be a reference, a first statement of guidelines in your own community, and reviewed regularly. Then, they suggest three avenues for further development: talk about it, read about it, write about it.

• Talk with a group of people representing the partners in your programs. Try to increase understanding about different perspectives on contentious issues. Talk to experienced educators about their good practice guidelines and how they have resolved difficult issues.

• Read what others have written about their practice. Check the references attached to this report and follow up on any references that caught your attention.

• Write about your guidelines and your experience in newsletters and web conferences. Assist business and labour in writing policy for workplace education which could include good practice guidelines.

McLeod, writer of the national think tank report, concludes the report with suggestions for thinking about and planning your own process. She recognizes that some providers “have a definitive set of guidelines, others demonstrate good practice based on informal understandings” (p. 23). She sees the report as a catalyst for stimulating discussion, review and formulation of good practice guidelines for others.