Get Work Experience Toolkits - Students

What is the Work-Based Learning System Continuum? The purpose of the continuum is to describe the developmental stages that pathway teachers and district leadership may go through as they deepen the work-based learning component of pathway implementation.

WBL programs are targeted to bridge the gap between the learning and the doing. "Work-based learning strategies provide career awareness, career exploration opportunities, career planning activities and help students attain competencies such as positive work attitudes and other employable skills."

Recent research, policy literature, and federal legislation suggest that comprehensive WBL programs contain three key components: the alignment of classroom and workplace learning; application of academic, technical, and employability skills in a work setting; and support from classroom or workplace mentors.

Work-based learning experiences, may include: Job Shadowing. Career Mentorship. Career Related Competitions. Informational Interviews. Paid Internships. Non-paid Internships. Practicum. Service Learning.

The chart below shows how various work-based learning activities fall within four categories: career experience, career engagement, career exposure, and career exploration.

Work Based Learning1 is an educational approach or instructional methodology that uses the workplace or real work to provide students with the knowledge and skills that will help them connect school experiences to real-life work activities and future career opportunities.

The objectives that students set will help them grow in four areas: workplace skill development, academic enrichment, career awareness and personal improvement.

Work-based learning gives people an opportunity to immerse themselves in a particular field and interact with professionals who have worked in it for years. This type of experience can help people make decisions about their long-term career goals. Gain experience that reinforces academic instruction.