Wrong on both accounts.
Models for practice, that model tend to be small: much much smaller, or on computer nowadays. Also, they'll build it to the right proportion; not a compressed version that will tell them absolute nothing.
When compared to an actual carrier module, this module is not full scaled. So in relative term, the module is small. And for your information, tasks such as welding aren't something that are practiced on a computer. You were probably thinking of FEM analysis, which is related to structural verification and is not related to practicing production skills. As something used for test and practice, there is also no requirement that the module has to have the right proportion or even resembling anything.
No employer will allow their employees build something like "that" for learning about building carrier! Not even one with incredible deep pocket (they'll go broke: and yes, even superpower nation). This module will be an "Ah!" moment maker, and we'll all likely enjoy seeing the final out come. However, it is unlikely to be anything carrier related.
The waiting will have to continue.
No employee could have took valuable steels then build a five-story high module on his own accord. This means the modules were built at the order of the employer. So, the employer did allowed their employees to build "that", specifically for testing and learning about production techniques in building a carrier.
A demonstration module was built before China started production of 056, despite the 056 being a far smaller and easier ship to build than an aircraft carrier. What's more, that module didn't even resemble a ship! I don't understand why it is so hard for you to accept what we are seeing as demonstration modules for the carrier.
