Newsletter of the Business Education Resource Consortium Volume Spring , 1999
GROUNDHOG DAY ACTIVITIES
Don Brewster, Arroyo Grande H.S. Business teacher, Billy Mills,Arroyo Grande H.S. student, and Senator Jack O’Connell. Billy Mills, a student at Arroyo Grande High School, spent Groundhog Day shadowing Senator Jack O’Connell at the State Capitol, Sacramento. Billy was one of thousands of young people nation-wide who participated in this work-based activity.
In this issue: WORK - BASED LEARNING Overview By Anne Lee . . . 1 Definitions Types of work-based learning . . . 2 Coming Events Mark your calendar. . . 2 Lessons Learned NCRVE guidelines to help programs succeed . . . 2 Work-Based Learning Innovations A school district and school site . . . 3 Principles for high-quality work-based learning Findings from the Cornell Youth and Work Program . . . 4 Educating For Careers ‘99 Highlights of the conference . . . 4 |
OVERVIEW
Anne Lee
Work-Based Learning
Work-based learning has been around in education for a long time. The new twist, however, is that work-based learning is valuable for all students. Our national School-To-Work (STW) office explains that work-based learning gives students the chance to apply abstract concepts and principles while learning vital workplace skills.
Changing workplace needs and global competition are the driving forces behind an interest in school reform. Critics of work-based learning say that education should not cater to the needs of business and industry for a particular workforce, as this limits a student’s educational opportunities too early.
They also state that work distracts from a student’s performance in school. Proponents of work-based learning contend that in a good program the students make a connection between the learning at school and on the job, thereby increasing motivation, focus and retention in high school.
Cornell University’s Youth and Work Program conducted a four-year study on work-based learning programs. They concluded that there is nothing “magical” about the workplace experience in terms of a guarantee that students will learn. They identified the quality of a program as the critical factor in making a difference to student learning. The researchers identified seven principles that determine a quality program (see pg. 4).
Work-based learning is at the heart of Tech Prep and STW. Quality work-based learning gives our students skills that are transferable to any job situation, and it gives employers confidence in the abilities of the future workforce.