Work-based and experiential learning programs allow students to
learn occupational skills through actual work experience rather than classroom,
or
in addition
to classroom, learning.
Opportunities can take many forms, including these options:
Apprenticeship opportunities
An apprenticeship is a relationship between an individual and a
business in which the individual agrees to work in exchange for instruction
to gain skills
necessary to work successfully in that occupation. Registered and Youth Apprenticeship
Opportunities are explained further in Apprenticeship
Programs.
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Career mentorship
Career mentorships allow individuals to set up a formal, long-term
relationship with someone more experienced working in a specific career of
interest. A mentorship involves a significant amount of time for both the individual
and mentor, so the individual should have already established a tentative career
major. A mentor works with an individual to create a plan to achieve their
career
goals and offers support, guidance, motivation, and assistance as they work
to achieve those goals. The individual gains in-depth knowledge about an industry,
occupation,
and career.
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Cooperative work experience
A cooperative work experience is a paid opportunity for students
to complete while they attend high school or college. The experience offers
services and activities to help develop skills in a paid work environment.
Cooperative work experiences help create links between school-based education
and work-based educational experiences. These experiences are often confused
with paid internships. An internship connects a student to a field of study.
A cooperative work experience provides students with occupational and workplace
skill development. Cooperative work experiences are subject to Minnesota
child labor laws.
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Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)
Credit for Prior Learning programs are
designed to give college credit for activities or classes taken outside the
normal college routine. Some programs are based on classes that substitute
for college work.
Other programs allow students to meet college requirements by taking
tests or by substituting related work or life experiences. Paid work experience,
military service, volunteer work, and self-directed learning all provide related
experience.
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Internships
An internship is a short-term experience where an individual works
under supervision in an occupation to gain practical skills and experience
in that
occupation. Individuals can acquire new skills through an internship or investigate
different aspects of an industry. Internships can be both paid and unpaid experiences.
They are usually paid when individuals perform work related duties during the
internship. Sometimes students receive
college credit for their participation. For high school students, internships
are most common in the 11th and 12th grades when a student has a more defined
idea about their areas of interest. There are special work-based learning legal
requirements for
students under the age of 18 to protect them from what is defined as hazardous
work.
To find internships, check out
internships in Minnesota's Job Bank or Internship
Websites.
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Job shadow
During a job shadow experience, an individual follows an employee
at their workplace anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. The individual
experiences real day-to-day work in a specific occupation or industry. Participants
can ask detailed questions and see tasks being performed and the knowledge
and skills required to perform those tasks. Students typically job shadow
late in middle school or early in high school.
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Practicum
A practicum is an opportunity for students to complete an individualized
project related to their chosen career at a worksite. This short-term experience
allows a student to demonstrate their knowledge and ability through performance-based
measures. It also gives the student the opportunity to take advantage of state-of-the-art
technology and resources which businesses and industries use to remain competitive,
but are too expensive for schools to purchase. Practicum experiences typically
start around 10th grade, but are common throughout higher education.
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School-based entrepreneurship
A school-based entrepreneurship allows students to build a business
from the ground up. Students plan everything from the initial idea for the
business to complete ownership. Through the entrepreneurship, students develop
ties to their communities. They also strengthen their use of technology, creativity,
and self initiative to determine the unmet business needs of a community. Businesses
designed by the students may eventually spin of from the school setting into
a full time business within the community. An entrepreneurship could also be
an individual work-based learning activity where one student creates the initial
business idea, develops a business plan, and starts up the business.
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Service learning
Service learning helps individuals understand the needs of their
local community while gaining valuable skills which will benefit them as citizens
and employees. Local businesses, non-profits, social service organizations
and schools form partnerships to address community needs and involve youth
in learning experiences. This type of learning can be a short-term program
or a long-term project. The combination of service learning and classroom work
can produce dramatic improvements in learners’ attitudes, motivation,
and achievement. Service learning examples include stocking fish in a lake,
volunteering at a nursing home, or planning a neighborhood food drive.
Learn
and Serve America is a grants program administered by the Corporation
for National Service. In addition, the Minnesota Youth Development/Youth
Service Program grants local school districts the ability to levy funds for
youth service programs. School-based programs are administered through the
Minnesota Department of Education.
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Teacher externship
Teacher externships are opportunities for teachers to gain current
examples of how what they teach is being used in today’s life situations.
They are beneficial for teachers in developing lesson plans and activities
to help students understand concepts. They also provide an example of how learning
can be applicable to real and current life situations. Externships are common
during the summer and are sometimes paid through a teacher stipend.
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Tech prep
A transitional program linking secondary and post-secondary education
programs for students planning technical careers. Tech prep includes elements
such as a coherent sequence of courses, curriculum integration/applied academics,
articulation, support services/counseling and program promotion.
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Vocational Student Organizations
These are an integral component to educational and employment transitions
programs. Vocation Student Organizations (VSOs) provide a unique program of
career and leadership development, motivation and recognition exclusively for
secondary, post secondary, and adult and collegiate students enrolled in vocational
education programs. VSOs are not clubs to which only a few students belong.
A VSO is a powerful instructional tool that is integrated
into the applied curriculum and classroom by the instructor, who is committed
to the importance of providing students with job and career-related training.
The following organizations are in Minnesota:
- Business Professionals of America (secondary
and post-secondary for business and office education students)
- Secondary DECA and Delta Epsilon
Chi (postsecondary) for the marketing instructional area
- FFA for
agricultural education
- PAS (National
Postsecondary Agricultural Students) for agribusiness, agriculture and horticulture
areas of study
- FLA/FHA and HERO for consumer home economics programs
- HOSA (Health
Occupations Students of America) for health occupations education programs
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Volunteer service
Education and on-the-job experience can be obtained by volunteering
through a volunteer service agency. Volunteers are usually placed in public-service
type jobs for a specific length of time. Training is provided before the assignment
and, through the agency, the volunteer is placed. No salary is provided, but
a cost of living allowance is sometimes provided depending on the location
of the volunteer job. Some volunteer agencies provide additional incentives
such as credit for payment on some federal educational loans.
To find volunteer opportunities, check out the volunteer
position listings in Minnesota's Job Bank.
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Worksite field trip
A worksite field trip is a guided tour of a business. An employer
provides information on work processes and the skill requirements of different
jobs. These are short-term experiences, but provide an opportunity to explore
a variety of occupations at one time and ask questions. The elementary and
middle school years can be a perfect time for worksite field trips. An individual
student or entire class can participate, although the experience is usually
more valuable for both students and employers when it involves a small group.
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Youthworks * Americorps
YouthWorks*AmeriCorps brings
diverse individuals and communities together to promote and support national
and community service. The Minnesota Youthworks program and the Americorps
program of the Corporation for National Service focus on four priorities: education,
public safety, human needs, and environment.
Communities benefit by being involved in the development of community-based
initiatives that are designed to address critical and unmet needs, and that
provide direct service. Participants benefit through being engaged in work
and service learning experiences. Post-service education awards are further
benefits to participants. YouthWorks * AmeriCorps is administered through ServeMinnesota.
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Source: Connecting
Youth to Work-Based Learning, Minnesota Department of Education, 2003.
Page last updated in September 2004.
