Work Based and Experiential

Learning (WB & EL) Program

1. WB & EL Program Overview

The work based program at the STMHS will provide industry-based learning experiences for educators and students.  Work based learning offers students and teachers an opportunity to connect the learning in the classroom to the needs and demands of higher education and the highly skilled and innovative workplace.  Work-based experiences and learning can take place in many forms. Some examples are: field trips, job shadowing, internships, externships, mentoring, guest speakers, part time employment, career exploration etc. Work based learning will expose students to the relevancy of their education.  The major goal of the STMHS Work Based Program is to optimally prepare students to enter the highly skilled, highly paid, and innovative workforce of tomorrow.  Work-based learning takes on many forms, including: career exploration, field trip/company tour, job shadowing, internship and part time employment.  Many forms of work based learning can be referred to as experiential learning experiences. 

 

2. Generation Next Overview and STMHS Initiative

The Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut has been selected as 2007 pilot site for the GenNext Work Based Learning program. The purpose of the GenNext work based learning initiative is twofold: to provide pilot program funds to develop innovative work-based learning components for Connecticut teachers, counselors and students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) that will become the work-based learning model for all CTE programs; and to foster state, regional  and local partnerships within the education and business & industry sectors so that the GenNext Pilot will be sustained after the one-year grant period ends. The GenNext grant is an investment in the establishment of a model system of structured work-based learning activities designed to increase the relevance of secondary and post-secondary academics while sharpening students’ career development and post-secondary decision-making focus. This piloted system will become the work-based learning model for the state. The STMHS in conjunction with the STEM Institute will offer professional development to other schools upon successful completion of the pilot year, and will sustaining the GenNext program within the educational system, business, and industry community.

 

Goals

In an effort to develop and maintain a well-educated, highly skilled and productive Connecticut workforce prepared to meet the state labor demands and that of the global economy, the GenNext grant opportunity shall achieve the following objectives:

Engage classroom teachers in the development of curriculum within the content areas of science, technology, engineering and math (the STEM cluster) in the context of industry expectations for careers in the high performance workplace;

Enhance school counselors knowledge of future careers, expectations and education requirements in order to better guide students in secondary and post-secondary education and career planning;

Ground students’ classroom experiences in science, technology, engineering and math through structured work-based learning;

Increase resources and their efficient use so that all schools will have the capacity to ensure that all students achieve at high levels;

Expand school-business partnerships to meet the needs of business and industry;

Develop a work readiness curriculum that hones the employability skills required by the high performance workplace and integrates those skills into the classroom as well as the worksite;

Integrate knowledge of workplace safety and child labor laws into classroom in preparation for worksite learning activities;

Improve academic performance through innovative work-based strategies that integrate core academic competencies within the context of workplace skills; and

Develop a pilot work-based learning model for teachers, counselors and students along with strategies for its replication.

3. STMHS WB & EL Program Highlights

2006-07 pictures

4. Information and Resources for Educators

Facilitating Work Based Experience

- Career Exploration

- Field Trips/ Company tour

- Job Shadowing

- Internship

- Part time Employment

- Externships

- Embed roles and responsibilities

General Websites for information

State of Connecticut site

Activity Matrix Document

Contact Matrix Document

6. STMHS partners on WB & EL

- Connecticut Career Choices

"CCC is a workforce development initiative focused on the implementation of curriculum aligned with both industry and state standards that can be adapted to any high school within Connecticut."

- Easterm CT Workforce Investment Board

"The Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment, or EWIB, oversees a network of workforce related programs and agencies funded by a variety of state and federal sources. Included in this network are four regional CTWorks East One-Stop Centers. EWIB also works to identify the changing labor needs of local employers and job seekers in order to ensure that its programs continue to meet their needs."

- Experts in Schools

"The Experts in Schools (EIS) program intends to reduce the shortage of Connecticut students who pursue advanced education in the sciences and engineering." 

- Governor's Prevention Partnership

"Created in 1989, The Governor's Prevention Partnership is a not-for-profit partnership between state government and business leaders with a mission to keep Connecticut's youth safe, successful and drug-free."