Work Based Learning

Job shadowing is an informal type of work experience where a student accompanies an experienced worker as they perform the targeted job. It is usually short term (a couple hours to a few days at most) and unpaid.

An internship is a hands-on experience, for professional careers, where students apply the principles they’ve learned in the classroom to a real-world setting. Internships should be designed to meet both the needs of the organization and learning goals of the student. These positions may be paid or unpaid and are usually temporary. The duration may be anywhere from nine weeks to two years, but typically last the course of a semester. Some internships have the opportunity for the student to attain at least one industry-recognized certificate/credential.

Pre-apprenticeship programs are sets of strategies designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a Registered Apprenticeship.  These programs have a documented partnership with at least one Registered Apprenticeship program sponsor and together they expand the participant’s career pathway opportunities with industry-based training coupled with classroom instruction.

Apprenticeships prepare workers to meet the business demand of a highly-skilled workforce. It is an employer-driven, “learn-while-you-earn” model that combines on-the-job training, provided by the employer that hires the apprentice, with job-related classroom instruction tied to the attainment of national skills standards. The model also involves progressive increases in an apprentice’s skills and wages.

Similar to an apprenticeship except the U.S. Department of Labor works with State Apprenticeship Agencies to administer the program nationally. The State Apprenticeships agencies are responsible for:

• Registering apprenticeship programs that meet federal and state standards

• Protecting the safety and welfare of apprentices

• Issuing nationally-recognized and portable credentials to apprentices

Independent WBL Experience: Students working in the community to advance their universal construct skills. The WBL experience is initiated by the student.   Students work with employer to provide evidence of skills learned using approved evaluation tool.

WBL Coordinators create placements and experiences that are valuable and meaningful for students. WBL coordinators make regular visits to student work sites and conference with supervisors at regular intervals to check and monitor students work performance.

• Explore interests and abilities for a particular career pathway (link to

• Experience learning in real-world settings,

• Develop workplace interpersonal skills (add list)

• Reflect and evaluate personal abilities, interest and skills

• Increase understanding and awareness about the skills, aptitudes and post secondary education needed for careers in the industry

• Learn 21st Century Skills  & Universal Construct

Independent Work-Based Learning (WBL) Experience Code: 7572 & 7573

• Credit: ½ credit
• Elective/Required: Elective 9-12 (May take multiple semester for up to 2 credits or more with administrator approval)
• Prerequisite: none
• Course Description: Independent WBL credit is granted to students who are working on a regular basis and is given to students who have a job that they found on their own. Learning employability skills in the workplace is valuable as students develop college and career readiness skills. Credit is granted at the completion of 100 hours and submission of employer and/or student evaluation.
• Skills Needed to be Successful in the Class: Students must comply with employer guidelines and MCSD Training Agreement.
• Learning Goals: The student will be able to: 1.) Demonstrate 21st Century Skills and Universal Constructs and 2.) Meet employer workplace expectations.
• Careers Related to Content: Related to all career pathways.

• Create a pipeline of potential employees to recruit and hire for future jobs

• Replace retiring workers

• Reduce training costs

• Provide industry insight to the education system

• Sustain economic development

• Develop mentoring relationships with students