Implementing Community-Based and Work-Based Learning

The California STC Work-Based Learning Toolkit lists “Seven Simple Guidelines” for implementing work-based learning:

1. Plan and prepare for successful experiences
2. Maximize learning
3. Provide effective supervision
4. Promote safety
5. Manage the hours a student is at the worksite
6. Pay when required
7. Provide ongoing support

Very detailed Fact Sheets and Checklists for each step are also provided in the California STC Work-Based Learning Toolkit . While not substituting for legal advice, the Toolkit also provides guidance to help ensure that work-based learning is safe and meets federal and state guidelines.

Key Stages in Creating and Managing Work-Based Learning Experiences. There are five stages for facilitating work-based experiences that are the same in working with both students and employers. They are:

1. Preparation
2. Connection
3. Supervision
4. Assessment
5. Appreciation

Within each stage, there are specific steps that a teacher/coordinator takes in setting-up and managing work-based experiences for their students.

Steps in working with the student

• Career exploration and assessment opportunities to assist students in selecting a placement (for job shadows, summer internships)
• Orientation to workplace practices and to program/project requirements
• Resumé, if this is part of the learning experience
• Matching of students to opportunities or guidance to students in finding a site
• Development of learning goals for the project or experience
• Pre-experience assessment of skill level, as appropriate
• Completion of project-specific learning requirements (e.g., students going out to work on an environmental project may have preliminary lab tests to do)
• Logistics (permission slips, work permits, transportation, etc.)
• Supervision
• Reflection, assessment of learning
• Assessment of program and presentations
• Expression appreciation to the host organization or employer

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Steps in working with the host/employer

• Recruitment of and contact with the organization or employer
• Employer orientation to work-based learning and to program/project
• Clarification of legal and logistical issues (worker’s compensation, salaries/stipends, transportation, etc.)
• Selection of student, if there are multiple student candidates
• Crafting and agreement to student learning goals
• Provision for pre-experience assessment of skill level, as appropriate
• Ensuring orientation of student to the workplace (safety, regulations, workplace expectations)
• Ensuring mentoring at the worksite
• Provision for assessment of students’ learning
• Provision for assessment of program

Do it together! Colleagues and partner organizations can work together to make this happen smoothly. Note that The California Master Plan encourages counselors and teachers to “work together to identify and nurture relationships with community-based agencies, using experiential education to enhance academic achievement, to illustrate the practical utility of learning different academic content, and to stimulate greater student persistence.”

Teachers and counselors can get help from many sources. In so doing, they will also promote partnerships that can sustain programs for years to come.

Sources of help include:

• Other school staff, such as the Career Center Staff, or Work Experience Coordinator
• District staff responsible for coordinating the school-to-career activities
• The local School-to-Career Partnership and/or County Office of Education
• The regional School-to-Career Partnership
• A local business-education consortium (e.g. Tri-Valley Educational Collaborative)
• A city agency (e.g. City of Berkeley Youthworks)
• A non-profit organization (e.g. Junior Achievement or Girls, Inc.)
• A school foundation (e.g. Pleasanton Partners in Education)
• An industry-based group (e.g. the education committee of an industry association)
• A large employer
• A Youth Council
• An economic development or workforce development organization (e.g. Contra Costa Economic Partnership, Workforce San Diego)

To find contact information to the School-to-Career Partnership nearest you, please see the list provided in the Resource Section.

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