Work-based learning is more than just internships!
There are many types of career experiences that might make sense for your age or occupational/job interests. Some are more intense than others, and provide different ways of learning.
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Career Day/Career Fairs
Organize an event where different business and organizations that provide resources for students around career pathway development come in and engage with students, provide mock interviews, and hire for internships or summer employment.
Field Trips/Job Shadows
Organize a field trip for your students to a local business to explore what the company does, how all the jobs work together to create an outcome, and see how a professional environment operates.
Senior Capstone Project
Project based learning can be a powerful tool to engage students with specific jobs and occupations and the skills associated with them. It can also teach students about purpose and relating careers to the needs of their community.
Volunteering
Encourage students to participate in volunteer activities, especially those that provide the opportunities to enhance employability skills.
Speaker Series
Have local employers come in and talk about their occupation and job, and their own career pathway to help your students gain a better understanding of existing jobs and what it takes to work in specific fields.
Internships
Create an internship program to provide professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to a student's field of study or career interest.
Bring Your Kid to Work Day
An excellent way for students to explore the workforce. It inspires students to see the different roles required to run a business or to build a project.