Students’ Work-based Learning

Solo Student Job Shadowing provides the opportunity to spend “a day in the life” of a professional working in a position that aligns with students’ career interests.

A teacher may make a class assignment for students to identify and secure a host for job shadowing on a specific day.

Permission slips are required prior to approval of any school absence. Students should expect to complete a written assignment after their job shadowing experience.

Students in need of help securing a solo job shadowing host can submit THIS FORM.

Teachers may elect to schedule an opportunity for their students to visit a local place of business as a group.

Typically, a group of students interested in a common career topic visits a local company that provides goods or services within that industry. A detailed example of a schedule for this type of WBL is on the Business Partners’ WBL Resources webpage.

Typical field-trip permission forms are required prior to participation in this type of WBL Experience.

Externships are essentially less formal, shorter internships. Students are connected with an organization aligned with their career interests to spend multiple days, sometimes multiple weeks, building relationships and a deeper understanding of their chosen career pathway. Externships differ from internships in that they are most often unpaid and do not offer high school course credit. Externships, sometimes also known as Fellowships, are extremely useful for building relationships in a specific career field, especially when a formal internship may not be possible.

Students in need of assistance in securing a ExternshipHost can use THIS FORM.

Student organizations also offer terrific opportunities for networking and career related experiences.

Check out this summary of the various opportunities to participate in student organizations in SC high schools.

Please speak with your teacher and guidance counselor about student organizations available at your school!

Students can benefit from a wide array of other work-based learning experiences –

WBL Career Camps, often in the summer months, offer immersion in a specific career pathway and exposure to many successful professionals.

Students are encouraged to speak with their teachers and school counselors about special opportunities.

Check out the opportunities posted on the Summer Career Exploration Opportunities Page!

Internships connect students with an opportunity to deeply explore their chosen career major through “hand on” learning in the occupation. Educators & host businesses develop written training and evaluation plans to guide workplace activities in coordination with classroom instruction. Students can receive course credit while exploring careers aligned with their interests and talents!

• ALIGNMENT

  1. Speak with your teacher about Work-based Learning opportunities and how they align with your career major.

• AVAILABILITY

  2. Make an appointment to visit your career specialists and/or school counselor to determine if a WBL Course fits your academic and scheduling requirements for the upcoming semester or summer.

• UNDERSTANDING

  3. Read & Initial each page of the CCSD Student WBL Handbook and discuss the opportunity at home. (Be prepared to turn in your Student Handbook to your WBL Teacher of Record upon confirmation of your WBL Course.)

• COMMUNICATE INTENT

  4. Complete the CCSD Student WBL Course Participation Intent Form to begin the process of identifying a business partner willing to host your Work-based Learning experience.

• RECOMMENDATION

  5.  Ask an educator to complete the Educator Recommendation Form

• WBL COURSE APPROVAL

  6. WBL Course for high school credit is approved and student is connected with approved Business Partner(s) to discuss potential WBL experience.

• GETTING HIRED

  7. Student interviews with approved Business Partner(s) with the goal of being offered a position.

• FORMS COMPLETE

  8. Turn in complete WBL Course Application Package, including WBL Training Agreement and Transportation & Emergency Information Form to WBL Teacher of Record along with WBL Student Handbook & Business Partner Intent Form.

• ORIENTATION

  9. Attend WBL course orientation meeting at your school with your WBL Teacher of Record and the direct supervisor from the Business Partner that offered you the WBL position.

• WBL COURSE START

  10. Begin your WBL Course Experience on the agreed first day.

Career Mentoring Experiences engage a student with a willing volunteer who possesses workplace skills and knowledge to be mastered by the student. The mentor instructs the student, critiques the performance of the student, challenges the student to perform well, and works in consultation with classroom teachers and the employer of the student. Much like an internship, Career Mentoring Experiences typically last at least one semester, and can continue sometimes for multiple years. The difference for this type of career exploration from a traditional internship is the relationship is often 1 to 1 with the host / mentor.

Youth Apprenticeships are formal relationships between an employer and student learning a specific occupation in a structured program, typically lasting 2 or more years. Dual credit classes at a local college are often a part of this WBL program.

LINK TO MORE INFO ON Youth Apprenticeships from Trident Technical College