Work-Based Learning

What?

Work-based learning at the HIGH SCHOOL level stresses career preparation and application. Career preparation activities integrate academic and technical skills learned in the classroom with work-based skills. Many students select a career cluster and/or area of emphasis. Application is public education's last stage of student transition from school to work. Students will prepare for further training and/or a career. Activities may include:

• Computer aided career exploration (E-choices) or Virtual Job Shadow
• Career seminars
• Internships
• Apprenticeships
• Cooperative work experience
• Project-based/problem based learning
• Community service learning
• Job shadowing
• Entrepreneurial projects

Why?

Work-based learning helps answer the questions often posed by students: "Why do I have to learn this?" or "When will I ever use this?" Students perform better academically when they see relevance and application of what they are learning. Some of the benefits of work-based learning activities are:

• Exploration of career options
• Better decisions and plans
• Application of classroom learning
• Improvement of scholastic student motivation
• Exposure to state-of-the-art practices and technology

How?

Listed below are several ways to incorporate work-based learning into high school curriculum:

• Career Fairs - speakers that support career awareness and exploration focused on a specific career cluster.
• Service Learning - a strategy in which students learn and develop skills through active participation in thoughtfully organized service experiences. These experiences are coordinated between the school and community.
• Field Studies - a great awareness and exploratory strategy used with students. Field studies support student identification of skills necessary on a particular work site.
• Guest Speakers - provide well planned reinforcement of activities and core concepts currently being taught.
• Job Shadows - students make a brief visit to a workplace during which time students observe and ask questions of individual workers.
• Internship Course - activities in which students engage in learning through practical work-site experience.
• Apprenticeship Assignment - formal system of training supervised by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. These work-based learning experiences combine training and work-site experience in a program similar to a college education.

Lori Lingwall is your Work-Based Learning Coordinator and will gladly help you implement any of these activities! You can contact her at 256-5833 or 256-5134 or e-mail her at llingwall@jatc-wj.org.