How BCITO is transforming site-based apprenticeships with Canvas

When David Parsons steps onto a construction site, he brings decades of experience and a sharp memory. More than once, an apprentice he supported years ago has tapped him on the shoulder, now running jobs and managing teams. 

He doesn’t always remember them right away—the ones who caused trouble tend to stick more than the high achievers—but seeing their success is the part of the job that stays with him most clearly.

Parsons is a training advisor with BCITO (Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation), New Zealand’s largest provider of trade apprenticeships.

Every year, BCITO supports thousands of learners across the country through a three-way model that brings together the learner, the employer, and a dedicated training advisor. These apprenticeships take place on the job, in real workplaces, and use a flexible digital platform, Canvas by Instructure, to support learning, communication, and assessment.

A model built for trades

In BCITO’s model, learning doesn’t begin with a course intake or a classroom. It begins when an employer takes on an apprentice and signs a training agreement alongside BCITO and the learner. That agreement outlines a shared commitment: the employer will train on site, the learner will document their progress, and the training advisor will support, assess, and coach throughout.

"We're not a classroom-based model. The site is the learning environment," explained Nicki Alori, BCITO's digital learning product owner.

BCITO supports more than 14 different construction trades, including carpentry, brick and block, painting, and tiling. Training advisors like Parsons and Keegan Bloem visit apprentices every few months, assessing skills in context and supporting professional growth. Those visits are part assessment, part progress check, and part wellbeing touchpoint. "You often become a figure in their life that’s a bit of a role model," said Bloem.

Canvas on site, every day

Canvas is central to how BCITO facilitates learning across a decentralised, site-based network. Apprentices use the Canvas app to access resources, complete quizzes, and upload photos and videos as evidence of their work. 

"It’s basically recording their learning journey," said Alori. Many learners engage with the app daily, especially during morning breaks or in the evening after work.

Training advisors and employers have full visibility into progress. A custom-built training plan dashboard, developed using Canvas’ open API, lets everyone see milestones, goals, and updates in one place. Employers verify uploaded work. Advisors assess it and provide feedback directly through Canvas or in person.

Bloem, who completed his own apprenticeship without digital tools, described the difference clearly: "I had a USB stick... now they can take a photo on site and send it straight through. We can see the whole learning journey."

For areas without reliable connectivity, BCITO developed an offline progressive web app called Hornō, which syncs with Canvas once a signal is available. Training advisors use it to move milestones, record observations, and log visits on site without disruption.

Progress that motivates

Seeing progress matters. Apprentices can check their percentage completion in Canvas, see what tasks remain, and track their growth. For Dylan Henning, a first-year apprentice, it’s a source of motivation. After seven months, he had already passed the 20% milestone he’d set for himself. 

"Being able to see that progress really helps me set more goals," he said.

Employers value it, too. Zack Talec, who has trained five apprentices over the years, said the platform makes it easier to know what still needs to be covered on site. He sees who’s doing night classes, who's engaging with content, and who’s putting in extra effort—like Dylan, who Talec described as "the best apprentice I've had."

Inclusive by design

BCITO serves a wide range of learners, from school leavers to career changers in their sixties. Many are multilingual or face learning challenges. Canvas tools like the immersive reader and multilingual support play an important role in ensuring that everyone can access content in a way that works for them.

"We have about 16,000 learners, and we always say we have 16,000 cohorts of one," said Alori. Learners start at different times, learn in different ways, and move at different speeds.

This individualised approach is embedded throughout the model. Parsons described how he tailors support for each apprentice, reading between the lines when evidence is unclear, and working with each person in the way they respond to best. "Everyone is unique," he said.

A national impact

BCITO's work is also a response to broader national needs. New Zealand faces a significant construction skills shortage, with 50,000 carpenters needed. BCITO is working to close that gap while also increasing participation from women, Māori, and Pacific peoples across the trades.

There are clear professional benefits for learners who complete a BCITO apprenticeship. Qualification is often the pathway to becoming a licensed building practitioner, and for many, it enables career progression or the chance to run their own business.

But the personal impact is just as clear. Training advisors, trainers, and learners all spoke about the pride of seeing someone grow into a confident, capable professional. As Bloem put it: "I like to see other people succeed. It’s really fulfilling to see them go from zero to hero."