What is Work Based Learning?
Work Based Learning is a series of learning activities that take place in the workplace or in the school in collaboration with the community to provide a service or produce a product that meets industry standards.
- Successful WBL require a collaboration of education and business and industry stakeholders
- Can be experiences that range in intensity, structure, and scope such as site visits, job shadowing, paid and unpaid internships, structured on-the job training, and more formal work status such as apprentice or employee
Includes career awareness and exploration opportunities can such as:
- Job shadowing
- Community Service/volunteering
- Career-focused research products
- School-based enterprises
- Community-based work programs
Career exploration, development, and application activities that allow students to observe and experience the knowledge, skills and training needed such as:
- Clinical experiences (in health science programs)
- Registered WBL experiences
Work Based Learning Manual: http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/programs/career-technical-education/wbl-manual_0.pdf
Work Based Learning Coordinator
- Assures student is well supervised while on the worksite and trained
- Ensures the employer is complying with NYSDOL Laws Governing the Employment of Minors
- Collaborates with classroom or CTE teachers to assure that the expectation of the worksite and needs/goals of the student are considered
- NYS certified WBL coordinator is required to complete two 3-credit-hour college level pre-service courses and a designated number of work experience hours
The WBL extension is earned through the successful completion of two 3-credit-hour college-level pre-service courses and a designated number of work experience hours outside of the classroom. The pre-service college courses required for an extension as a WBL coordinator are offered by several approved post-secondary institutions:
- SUNY Oswego: https://www.oswego.edu/vocational/work-based-learning-program-nys-certification-extensioncourses
- SUNY Buffalo State: https://continuingstudies.buffalostate.edu/work-based-learning-credentialwbl
- New York City College of Technology: http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/teacher-education/
- Hofstra University: https://www.hofstra.edu/academics/colleges/soeahs/soe-work-based-learning.html
Source: http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/programs/career-technical-education/wbl-manual_0.pdf
What is a Work-based Learning Experience (WBLE)?
- The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth defines work-based learning as:
- a “supervised program sponsored by an education or training organization that links knowledge gained at the work site with a planned program of study.
- Experiences range in intensity, structure, and scope and include activities as diverse as site visits, job shadowing, paid and unpaid internships, structured on-the job training, and the more formal work status as apprentice or employee.”
- Work-based learning experiences (WBLE) have been shown to be one of the strongest predictors of adult employment success for students and youth with disabilities when they are provided early and often … and include opportunities for paid work in competitive, integrated settings.