Typically, the WBL coordinator acts as a liaison between employers and educators and ensures that each aspect of the WBL activity is implemented successfully. 22 Cognitive Activities For High Schoolers Work-Based Learning (WBL) Tool Kit Recruitment of employer representatives should be focused on individuals who can provide a broad range of diverse employer perspectives and can devote the necessary time. According to an ASA survey from 2020, 79% of high school students stated they were interested in an internship either during the school year or during the summer, but only 3% actually had internship experience. Not As Hard As You Think: Engaging High School Students in Work-Based activities as early as elementary school, when students are first becoming aware of what adults do in the world around them. Work-based Learning - ACTE (See Sections 1.6.1 and 1.6.2 for more on managing stakeholders generally and engaging employers in particular.). It provides information pertinent to all WBL activities, which will enable district or school staff members to implement WBL activities in a broader, well-planned context. Because of the digital nature of these environments, they could receive specific feedback on their interactions and repeat scenarios multiple times to develop more competence and fluency. Great for students to practice vocational skills while not yet able to go to work in the community. Edutopia and Lucas Education Research are trademarks or registered trademarks of the George Lucas Educational Foundation in the U.S. and other countries. These activities take into consideration individual student needs, preferences, and interests. As we reviewed tech-based products and traditional face-to-face programs, it became increasingly clear that there are significant opportunities for these efforts to inform each other. CTE Data Story - U.S. Department of Education The same is true for employer participation in WBL programs. Help create a pool of better-prepared and motivated potential employees. A third and final meeting would approve the plan and focus on how each partner can help in implementation. Theres very little curation in the market either, so its difficult to identify the best solutions to fit individual needs. These experiences allow students to build a bridge from adolescence to adulthood. These new innovative technologies could be harnessed and implemented in communities where access to various types of careers or opportunities are limited. Work-based learning for teachers: Students and employers are not the only ones who can benefit from WBL. Ideally, the employer and the coordinator could agree on a plan for participation in a variety of WBL activities at different times of the year. There may be smaller employers that are willing to engage in the planning process, but staff should try to limit the inconvenience of doing so; it might be easier for them to meet once (or have a telephone conversation/interview) with a staff member to provide their perspectives on the WBL plan than to attend a series of meetings. While education beyond high school is the surest ticket to the middle class, the postsecondary landscape is complicated and hard to navigate. lynette.gillson@mvla.net; 650-237-9373. . They include opportunities for teachers to reflect on their experiences and determine how they will apply what they learn in their classrooms. In this report, we highlight four state policy strategies to expand the availability of relationship-rich work-based opportunities: developing a clear vision, definitions, and goals; identifying and tracking program quality metrics; supporting implementation with adequate funding and professional development; and coordinating across state agencies and local programs. Rather than engaging in power struggles with students, remind them that you have the same goal: their future success and employability. Cultivating hope, resilience, and a growth mindset in your students will support them tremendously in their future attempts to join the workforce. 30 Classroom Activities That Teach Job-Readiness Skills - WeAreTeachers Unfortunately, we dont live in that world yet. These associations and clubs can provide their members perspectives, and they also can be valuable partners for recruiting their members to participate in WBL activities. established in High School Policy 2.103. The activity is designed and shaped by educators and employer partners to broaden students knowledge by introducing a wide range of careers and occupations. More than 50 percent of each WDBs members must come from the business community. Connect the classroom to the workplace. The WBL coordinator (and other district or school staff) should begin by convening key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive WBL plan that will: In addition to serving as a framework for organizing the work of WBL coordinators and other district or school staff, the WBL planning process is an opportunity to enlist the support of those most critical to implementation of individual WBL activities. The 43-year-old single mother had spent years at a factory that had shut down and so had to train quickly for a new career. These include abilities like communication, conflict resolution, accepting constructive criticism, organization, and adaptability. More than 10,000+ students have been provided high quality work-based learning activities geared to their CTE track. For many young people, the path from the K-12 educational system to a good job as an adult is an obstacle course. As more WBL activities are implemented and staff changes occur, new staff members can use the database to ensure consistency and continuity. Career seminars focus on explicit instruction in areas such as safety, labor laws, the job-seeking process, choosing a career, and employability skills. The law also includes participation in WBL as one of three indicators of program quality that states may select to report. WBL activities are structured opportunities for students to interact with employers or community partners either at school, at a worksite, or virtually, using technology to link students and employers in different locations. Technology has the potential to increase work-based learning experiences, but we must be strategic and thoughtful about making sure that these emerging tech solutions provide all students with access to a wide range of rich opportunities, regardless of zip code. Engaging a wide range of employers in multiple WBL activities every year is critical to the very existence of WBL programs, let alone their success. Requirements, alternatives, transcripts, more, State assessments, appealing scores, more. Connecting Activities Connecting Activities (CA), Fund Code 428, line item 7027-0019, is a statewide network led by DESE and organized through sixteen MassHire Workforce Boards, charged with supporting work-based learning and other career development education activities for students. We are boldly reimagining how U.S. education and workforce systems meet state and regional talent needs and prepare young people for careers. The more schools and employers there are to track, the more an investment in the time it takes to set up a WBL database, using readily available software, will pay off in the long run. Yolonda Morrison knew nothing about forging metal or operating massive mobile machinery when she first donned a hard hat at a high-tech titanium manufacturer. For those whose families and schools cant provide adequate guidance, it is not easy to identify college and training options that are affordable and a good fit. Strengthen employees supervisory and leadership skills. Have everyone write down a test-related question on a slip of paper. They are applicable to multiple postsecondary education and career options. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the economy and educational system into turmoil. Following a few simple principles can help avoid this outcome: (1) coordinators should communicate only as frequently as necessary to get the job done; (2) the purpose of each communication should be clear as should its utility to the recipient; and (3) the least intrusive method that can accomplish the task should be used (e.g., call vs. meeting, email vs. call). The K-12 and postsecondary education systems are deeply stratified by race and class, and do not live up to the essential American goal of providing equal opportunity. For WBL activities that take place in the summer (e.g., student internships and teacher externships), the district or school may need to budget for related staffing and logistical costs and ensure appropriate staffing throughout implementation. The most important resource for managing all the moving parts of a comprehensive WBL plan is the WBL database described earlier. In addition, each WBL activity chapter provides ideas for student preparation as well as suggestions for employer preparation. Many have grown up with extra support, and they may not realize that they can perform countless tasks on their own. These are some of the issues we will explore in our upcoming blog series and that will be featured during discussions at Horizons, JFFs national summit in New Orleans, on June 1314. Lesson 1: The Big Picture Before developing work-based learning opportunities, it's important to lay the foundation of what it's all about. Work-based learning addresses a shared goal of educators and employers: preparing students with the knowledge and skills, including both . In all of these awareness activities, the benefits of participation for students, school, and employers should be highlighted. Participating in WBL activities can improve teachers, counselors, and administrators capacity to guide students career development work by bringing actual work experiences into classrooms, counseling settings, and the larger school community. For more information, please visit the Tri-Agency website . With such skills in mind, many classroom situations can become teachable moments geared toward work-readiness, including undesirable behavior choices. Increase staff understanding of the workplaces for which they are preparing students. Further, the experiences that are available tend to mimic the current siloed thinking of education or work.. Work-Based Learning Activities - EICC P-TECH's work-based learning includes mentoring, job shadowing, and internships. Have the opportunity to explore career options; Acquire real workplace experience and employability skills; and. Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. Be more likely to go on to some type of educational training after high school. Most students will have a view of what you're learning. PDF Strategies for Creating Work-Based Learning Experiences in - ExploreVR 6. Both students and employers benefit from the experience. Work-Based Learning | School District of Pickens County Students have opportunities to reflect on what they have learned and begin to identify interests for further exploration. Question roulette. Many high school students are able to graduate with entry-level career certifications or earn college credit for work . Identify resources (human and financial) that will be needed and how they will be obtained. Share your story. When you approach your instruction through a work-based learning lens, its all about transferable skills that will stay with studentswhich all working adults must learn and practice to keep a job. From this place, you can engage in problem-solving together. SE A sample WBL database template is provided in the Resources section of this introduction. Enable students to share their experiences with peers and teachers. Also, staff will be supported by a system that recognizes that it takes time and resources to develop effective partnerships and work-based learning opportunities (Youth to Work . This means that the WBL coordinator will need to keep track of every interaction with each stakeholder to make sure that the right information gets to the right party at the right time. Assessment and Guidance What role do assessments play in career development? There may already be a WBL plan in place; in that case, the WBL coordinator should determine how it should be updated, strengthened, or otherwise revised. Certification office, Standards board, more Fellows' Network, NBCT leadership, more School, educator, publications, media, more, Approved lists, requirements, guidance, more, Paraeducators, counseling, librarians, more. Selects and uses appropriate technology to accomplish tasks; applies technology skills to problem solving; uses standard technologies easily; and is able to access information quickly from reliable sources online. Because WBL is not a one-time initiative, special efforts should be made to retain employers as WBL participants year after year. Issues of student privacy are also more complex for those under 18. They start to believe in themselves on a much stronger level as they realize their capacity to participate in the workplace. Countless students have reconnected over the years to tell me their own success stories, which were launched by their high school work program experiences. Whether its a restaurant employee who moved up to manager, a child care aide who moved up to teaching, or an apprentice in the trades who became a foreman, work-based learning planted the first seeds to grow success. Make contacts with potential candidates for part-time, summer, or eventual full-time jobs. Developing the soft skills, or interpersonal skills, necessary to thrive at work. Generate favorable visibility in the community. Career awareness activities help students learn about a variety of careers, the education and training required for those careers, and the typical pathways for career entry and advancement. Depending on the specific WBL activity and context, school site responsibilities may rest with counselors, career advisors, teachers, or administrators. Were eager to hear insights from others in the field as we continue the work of helping identify and create opportunities for meaningful work-based learning. Recognize the relevance of education to career success and increase motivation for academic success. In order to identify career options that are a good "fit", it is important to complete assessments AND have help interpreting the results. P-TECH lasts six years and gives students a high school degree, a community college degree, and significant work experience by the time they finish high school, with no tuition cost to the students and their parents. A robust WBL program has many moving parts: scheduling multiple WBL activities for students from multiple schools; recruiting employers to participate in multiple WBL activities; coordinating with school schedules; matching up students with employers according to students career interests and employer expectations; managing the logistical details of WBL activity implementation; ensuring that both students and employers are well-prepared for each WBL activity, providing for post-activity reflection and evaluation; and capturing lessons learned from implementation that can be used for continuous improvement. Career awareness activities generally have the following characteristics: Career awareness activities might include: Career exploration activities help students learn about the skills needed for specific careers by observing and interacting with employees in the workplace. Connecting Activities - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and And, with a few exceptions, neither secondary nor postsecondary systems have a clear interface with the world of work. Each request should be tailored to the recipient, using information about the employer that has been researched and recorded in the database, and may offer a menu of choices of WBL activities. Here are some helpful tools and strategies that may support student success. Demonstrates originality and inventiveness in work; communicates new ideas to others; and integrates knowledge across different disciplines. Work-based learning activities extend the classroom into the workplace, connecting acquired knowledge and skills to a student's future employment. Such a plan would enable the coordinator to make specific requests in the context of an agreed-upon framework. As a result, young people have high levels of unemployment and tend to cycle in and out of jobs even as employers report difficulty finding workers with the necessary skills and experience. Perkins V defines WBL and uses the term in many sections, including in reference to state plans, programs of study, and collaboration among secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, and employers. Chapter 1: Introduction to Work-Based Learning (PDF). Work-Based Learning Work-based learning, which is a sequenced and coordinated set of activities through which students gain increasing exposure to the world of work, is a core component of the Pathways to Prosperity framework. This can be accomplished by saving the document to an intranet or by using online services or cloud tools. Employer-led efforts are the key to meeting the current demand for more work-based learning opportunities. Expand curricula by using workplaces as learning environments. WBL in ESSA The key stakeholders required for implementing WBL activities may include (and will almost always include those marked with an asterisk): Implementation of a specific WBL activity usually includes the following steps: More detailed information, including suggestions for implementation, time lines, and resource materials can be found in each WBL activity chapter. They include the following: Quality Work-Based Learning provides an introduction to the principles of and the foundation for developing any Work-Based Learning experience. Students play active roles in selecting and shaping the activities, based on their individual interests. Schools seek to strengthen work-based learning opportunities