Work-based learning: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:24, 20 April 2016

Latest revision as of 18:14, 22 March 2025

(18 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Citations needed|date=February 2024}}

==Overview==

"'''Work-based learning''' ('''WBL''') is an educational strategy that provides students with real-life work experiences where they can apply academic and technical skills and develop their employability." <ref name="Web Based Learning">{{cite web|url=http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/cte/curriculum/work-based|title=Work-Based Learning}}</ref> It is a series of educational courses which integrate the school or university curriculum with the workplace to create a different learning paradigm. "Work-Basedbased Learninglearning deliberately merges theory with practice and acknowledges the intersection of explicit and tacit forms of knowing."<ref>{{cite journal|last=Raelin |first=Joseph |date=November 1997 |title= A Model of Work-Based Learning |journal=Organization Science |volume=8 |issue=6 |page=574 |doi=10.1287/orsc.8.6.563|hdl=10419/268442 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

Most WBL programs are generally university accredited courses, aiming at a WINwin-WINwin situation where the learner's needs and the industry requirement for skilled and talented employees both are met. WBL programs are targeted to bridge the gap between the learning and the doing. "Work-Basedbased learning strategies provide career awareness, career exploration opportunities, career planning activities and help students attain competencies such as positive work attitudes and other employable skills."<ref name="Web Based Learning">{{cite web|url=http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/cte/curriculum/work-based|title=Work-Based Learning}}</ref>

Work-based learning encompasses a diversity of [[Formal learning|formal]], [[Nonformal learning|nonformal]] and [[Informal learning|informal]] arrangements including apprenticeships, work placement and informal learning on the job. The key driver is the need for active policies to secure learning that meets the need of the workplace.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002428/242887e.pdf|title=Level-setting and recognition of learning outcomes: The use of level descriptors in the twenty-first century|last=Keevy|first=James|last2=Chakroun|first2=Borhene|publisher=Paris, UNESCO|year=2015|isbn=978-92-3-100138-3|pages=115}}</ref>

==Classification==

Work-Basedbased Learninglearning is classified in three ways based on the -:

*'''Duration of Assignmentassignment:''' The Workwork-Basedbased Learninglearning experience maybe of a duration of a few hours to 2/4 years

*'''Relation to Coursecourse Workwork:''' Work-Basedbased Learninglearning is generally related to a specific subject taught at school or university

*'''Stipend: '''WBL assignments maybemay be paid or unpaid.

==WBL Learninglearning Strategiesstrategies==

Work-Basedbased Learninglearning strategies include the following - :<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hamilton |first=Stephen F. |last2=Hamilton |first2=Mary Agnes |date=1998 |title=When is Learning Work-Based? |journal=The Phi Delta Kappan |volume=78 |issue=9 |page=677}}</ref>

*'''Apprenticeship or Internshipinternship or Mentorshipmentorship:''' An [[apprenticeship]] involves the student working for an employer where he or she is taught and supervised by an experienced employee of the chosen organization. The student is periodically evaluated for progress as per the skills and knowledge acquired, and maybe granted wages accordingly. At the end of the course, the student receives a certificate of service. The student learns in a realistic environment and gets the opportunity to apply his or her knowledge in real -world scenarios.

*'''Job Shadowingshadowing:''' [[Job Shadowing]] is a short term opportunity that introduces the student to a particular job or career by pairing the student with an employee of the workplace. By following or 'shadowing' the employee, the student gets familiar with the duties and responsibilities associates with that job.

*'''Business/Industryindustry Fieldfield Triptrip:''' [[Field trips]] offer the students an insight in the latest technical advancements and business strategies of an enterprise. Students also gain awareness of the various career opportunities available and understand the driving forces of the community's economy.

*'''Entrepreneurial Experienceexperience:''' This includes setting up of specific business, right from the planning, organizing and managing stage to the risk control and management aspects of a business.

*'''Cooperative Educationeducation:''' In cooperative education, the work experience is planned in conjunction with the technical classroom instruction. This method is used by universities that do not have access to state-of-art equipment required to transact the technical course practically.

*'''School-based Based Enterpriseenterprise:''' A school -based enterprise is a simulated or actual business run by the school. It offers students a learning experience by letting them manage the various aspects of a business

*'''Service Learninglearning:'''This strategy combines community service with career, where students provide volunteer service to public and non-profit agencies, civic and government offices etc.

==Key Personspersons==

*'''Student:''' The student is central to the WBL process. The student engages in a WBL program and completes all requirements of the program, maintains high degree of professionalism and acquires necessary competencies for which the WBL program was designed.

*'''Business Mentor:''' A business mentor sets realistic goals for the student to acquire, engages and supervises them to complete their tasks and is a role model for the student to emulate.

Line 32 ⟶ 34:

==Merits==

* Application of classroom learning in real -world setting

* Establishment of connection between school and work <ref>{{cite journal |last=Stasz |first=Cathleen |last2=Brewer |first2=Dominic J |date=1998 |title=Work-Based Learning: Student Perspectives on Quality and Links to School |journal=Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis |volume=20 |issue=1 |pagepages=3231–46 |doi=10.2307/1164289|jstor=1164289 }}</ref>

* Improvement in critical thinking, analytical reasoning and logical abilities

* Expansion of curriculum and learning facilities

* Meeting the diverse needs of the learner

* Creating a talented and skilled pool of future employees

* Reduces pre-service training time and cost <ref>{{cite journal |last=Cappeli |first=Peter |last2=Shapiro |first2=Daniel |last3=Shumanis |first3=Nicole |date=1998 |title=Employer Participation in School-to-Work Programs |journal=Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science |volume=559 |issue=1 |page=113 |doi=10.1177/0002716298559001009|citeseerx=10.1.1.180.4171 }}</ref>

* Improvement of student awareness of career opportunities

* Making education relevant and valuable to the social context

* Community building exercise for productive economy <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gowerpublishing.com/pdf/SamplePages/Understanding-Work-Based-Learning-Roodhouse-Mumford-Ch2.pdf|title=Understanding Work-Based Learning}}</ref>

==DemeritsDisadvantages==

* Time-consuming activity to identify key courses that can be taught via WBL programs

* Needs careful consideration and planning when introducing WBL strategies within the existing curriculum

* Certain WBL programs may not be in sync with the formal education timelines and pattern

* It is unclear what key elements of this learning may be and that readily available indicators which equate with academic learning outcomes are not necessarily evoking it accuracy. <ref>{{cite journal |last=Saunders |first=Murray |date=1995 |title=The Integrative Principle: Higher Education and Work-Based Learning in the UK |journal=European Journal of Education |volume=30 |issue=2 |pagepages=214203–216 |doi=10.2307/1503529|jstor=1503529 }}</ref>

* Needs effective coordination between all key persons involved in the WBL program

* Effective evaluation strategy needs to be developed for assessing student performance. This should encompass both formative and summative feedback.

== Sources ==

{{Free-content attribution

| title = Level-setting and recognition of learning outcomes: The use of level descriptors in the twenty-first century

| author = Keevey, James; Chakroun, Borhene

| publisher = UNESCO

| page numbers = 115

| source = UNESCO

| documentURL = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002428/242887e.pdf

| license statement URL = http://www.unesco.org/ulis/cgi-bin/ulis.pl?catno=242887&set=0058D22B8C_1_128&gp=1&lin=1&ll=1

| license = CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

}}

==See also==

*[[Work-integrated learning]]

*[[Career and technical education]]

==References==

Line 55 ⟶ 73:

{{DEFAULTSORT:Work-based Learning}}

[[Category:EducationEducational practices]]

[[Category:Constructivism (psychological school)]]

[[Category:Experiential Learning]]

[[Category:Pedagogy]]

[[Category:Experiential Learninglearning]]