As we’ve previously discussed, work-based learning activities empower students with practical skills and industry knowledge, setting the up for success as they contemplate career paths and make decisions about their long-term career goals.
Perkins V defines work-based learning as “sustained interactions with industry or community professionals in real workplace settings… or simulated environments at an educational institution that fosters in-depth, firsthand engagement with the tasks required in a given career field.”
These activities, from educators who participated in our work-based learning webinar, will help you create work-based learning simulations in your own classroom.
Work-Based Learning and Perkins V
Lynn Aprill, Director of Education for Economic Development for the Wisconsin Cooperative Education Service, provided an introduction into how work-based learning works with Perkins V. She explained that Perkins V specifically mentions using work-based and worksite learning experiences where appropriate and available in your CTE instruction.
These programs should prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, or high-demand jobs. It’s also important that work-based learning opportunities can be accessed by all students.
This type of learning is important for students because, as stated by the Brookings institute in their Metropolitan Policy Program, it can highlight:
- Developmental relationships with adults
- Connections to wider social and professional networks
- Work experiences that provide hands-on learning and the opportunity to try on new roles and responsibilities
From fostering self and career exploration to developing positive work habits and attitudes, there are many benefits for students engaging in work-based learning. These experiences help them assess their abilities and strengths, expand their professional networks, and make more informed decisions when looking for work opportunities.
Activities for Health Science
Celena Mills, Office of Career and Technical Education at the Michigan Department of Education, shared some work-based learning activities specific to health science. To enhance career awareness, you can try “speed dating” with industry partners.
Choose a content area, such as anatomy, and invite a variety of related industry partners into the classroom to discuss their careers. You can use anatomical models and props that match each industry partner’s job to generate interest and focus the conversation.
Industry partners can also help you with career exploration by demonstrating important skills for their career to your students. After the demonstration, students can take turns playing the role of the patient and the healthcare professional. As with career awareness, using simulators and props during these demos can create more student interest.
After students have explored different careers, they can start preparing for them. It’s at this time that you or the industry partner can assess students’ skills and provide them with feedback. Students can practice critical skills by participating in large simulation activities, such as a trauma scene, to see what it would be like to work in that situation.
Activities for Skilled Trades
Realityworks Mechanical Design Engineer and former Tech Ed Instructor, Mikel Cobb, explained how Chetek-Weyerhaeuser High School in Chetek, Wisconsin used work-based learning. They had a youth apprenticeship program; however, they struggled to generate student interest. Many students didn’t understand the program or how it benefited them.
As a solution, they had students start by touring a manufacturing facility. Cobb would take note of things on the tour that sparked student interest. He’d then find a way to turn them into relatable classroom activities that made it easier to place students in their apprenticeship program.
For example, students toured Catalytic Combustion in Bloomer, Wisconsin where the employees were making mufflers as well as other items students weren’t familiar with. The students seemed intrigued by an ATV muffler, so Cobb asked if they could take some of the muffler assemblies home. He then created classroom activities in which students had to weld and create CAD drawings of the ATV mufflers.
Because the students familiarized themselves with the company and worked on their products, they were placed in an apprenticeship program without hesitation. Students were enthusiastic about the opportunity and had a good understanding of what the program involved.
Tip: If you struggle with finding opportunities like this with local industry partners, try working with the HR department of the facility. Cobb found that it was easier to coordinate with the HR department, rather than the welding manager, as the managers are often too busy.
Activities for FCS
Kimberly Baldwin, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator and FCCLA Adviser at Ponderosa High School in Colorado, shared some FCS-related activities for work-based learning. Baldwin created a childcare program for students in their education and training pathway with the RealCare Baby® Infant Simulators.
Each student or pair of students has their own Baby that they must take care of during class. Students in each class get the Babies for a week; Baldwin places the Babies in daycare mode outside of class time. She also creates eight childcare stations in the classroom:
- Check-in and safety
- Feeding
- CPR
- Nap
- Diapering
- Car seats
- Play
- Check-out
Students are introduced to the program when they go over class expectations at the beginning of the semester before they learn about infant development. Baldwin then demos the Babies and explains how to care for them. Grading is based on filling out and turning in an information packet for in-person classes or turning in editable Google Slides and photos as evidence of their work for remote classes.
Resources for Simulated Work-Based Learning
Training tools are great for schools with limited options for job shadowing, clinicals, and internships. How? They offer students realistic, hands-on opportunities to practice and master the technical skills they’ll need to perform at real jobs. Better yet, real-time feedback helps students learn from their mistakes and develop correct techniques, even if experiences in real workplaces are not possible.
Simulated tools and scenarios that mimic the look and feel of industry tools let students practice in a safe environment, such as medical manikins. Another option is simulated workplaces that make students feel as if they are truly on the job, such as classrooms set up to look like hospitals.
Here are some recommended simulation tools for CTE programs:
For health science programs:
For Family & Consumer Sciences programs:
For skilled trades programs:
For agriculture programs:
- Bovine Breeder™ artificial insemination simulator
- Canine Vet Trainer
- Plant Producer Educational Hydroponics System
More Resources
Ready to learn more? We suggest these resources:
- Learn how scenarios can help you give students additional career experience
- Discover simple classroom activities for exploring careers
- Read our previous post on work-based learning, and download a free WBL lesson
- Watch our complete webinar, “Work-Based Learning Activities for Your CTE Program:”