An adult role in a global economy requires that young people become autonomous decision-makers and problem-solvers who can reflect on their learning and can self correct.
— Nancy Hoffman, Schooling in the Workplace, Harvard Education Press, 2011 p.11
Work-based learning (WBL) is a progressive, multi-year sequence of instructional activities that extends students’ learning from school into a real-world, work-related context. These experiences allow students to build a bridge from adolescence to adulthood
Activities
WBL activities can occur in any grade - at any school; it is a core strategy in Career and Technical Education (CTE). Below are just a few examples of different types WBL that prepare your students to fully participate outside the classroom:
- guest speakers
- career days
- field trips
- worksite visits
- job shadowing
- off-site projects (outside of the classroom)
- school-based enterprises
- civics and business simulations
- student competitions
- internships
Scope and Sequence
A well-planned WBL sequence supports students in achieving the DOE’s College and Career Benchmarks. Click here for a sample scope and sequence from 7th – 12th grade.
Outcomes
Quality Work-Based Learning gives students opportunities to receive authentic feedback from adults in a particular industry and guides them to:
- identify and develop their strengths – the intersection of their interests and their abilities
- map a set of accessible career pathways where there is a demand for workers with their strengths
- develop a portfolio of accomplishments that show they play a role within a larger organization and demonstrate, for themselves, a degree of mastery in authentic settings (including professional credentials and content for resumes and application essays, etc.)
- build relationships with adults outside the classroom – with peers and elders, mentors and sponsors who can provide a bridge into postsecondary working communities and guide students to a meaningful definition of college and career success
Questions? Contact the Work-Based Learning Resource Center:
Resources