Work-Based Learning
Educator Guide to Work-Based Learning
Why Work-Based Learning Matters
Work-based learning has value for students at every age and stage — and can help make education more effective and equitable for all. Whether you're an educator at a K-12 or post-secondary institution, providing basic education to adults or doing career counseling at a community-based organization, work-based learning can help you provide:
- Opportunities to earn income and document learning towards credentials
- An alternative path for individuals who are hands-on learners
- Support for using previous learning as credit toward credentials (See C-Plan)
- A way to engage students/clients in both work and learning as they build foundational knowledge and skills towards future goals
- Meaningful support to learners at every level of need
The benefits and activities of work-based learning through Minnesota State have been developed in partnership with the National Governors Association (NGA), Minnesota's Departments of Labor and Industry, Education, Employment and Economic Development, along with other education partners.
Our efforts are aligned with Minnesota's P-20 Education Partnership and the Governor's Workforce Development Boards to connect education and industry needs.
The goal of this partnership has been to create a framework for the development and evaluation of credentials that would not only provide effective and equitable education to the diverse pool of learners we're actively working to recruit — but would also be recognized across agencies and educational providers.
Making a measurable difference
The partnership is committed to increasing the proportion of Minnesotans aged 25-44 who have attained a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or degree to 70 percent by 2025, within each racial/ethnic group.
This focus on disaggregated attainment rates is significant and somewhat unique and is critically important to the citizens of Minnesota as our state continues to have the largest gaps in educational outcomes in the country.
Understanding how work-based learning is defined
One of the challenges in designing an interoperable framework was accommodating the differences in how various government agencies and community organizations defined work-based learning. Here's a brief overview of the differences:
- Over 40 hours
- Formalized learning with instruction occurring at the school and at a community-based setting with an employer
- Involves a licensed teacher with a work-based learning coordinator endorsement
- For general education and special education students
Perkins Defined Work-Based Learning
Sustained interactions with industry or community professionals to foster in-depth- first hand engagement with the task required in a given career field. Such interactions occur either in real workplace settings or in simulated educational environments and are aligned to curriculum and instruction.
Employment-Based Training (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry)
An earn and learn model that pairs on-the-job training with some type of formal education (related instruction).
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-Defined Work-Based Learning
Work-based learning must be under actual working conditions and must be designed to enhance the employability, responsibility, and confidence of the learners. Work-based learning usually occurs in tandem with other career and technical training.
- Credit for Prior Learning Test Out
- Credit for Prior Learning Crosswalks
- Articulation Agreements
- Dual Instruction Models
Here are the four models for work-based learning currently supported for and by employers in Minnesota:
- Learning About Work
In this model, employers serve as guest speakers or presenters in classrooms or at career fairs and/or events. Employers interested in greater involvement may also host students on tours or even provide opportunities for job shadowing. These are usually brief interactions but can be highly effective in expanding knowledge and understanding of your industry and job opportunities. It's a great way to get students interested in future employment in your industry. - Learning Reflects Work
Schools and colleges depend on employers who can commit to providing projects, research, and shorter-term opportunities that allow learners to experience work. In this model, employers who provide those opportunities often serve as part of the learning assessment process – which includes sharing standards of professionalism and work product expectations. You or another volunteer from your organization may also be asked to provide direct feedback to learners or serve as judges for competitions. - Learning Through Work
Employers can play a key role in helping learners develop an understanding of work culture and expectations. The Learning Through Work model gives students the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge learned in the classroom as they participate in critical roles that develop them for their job or career. Learners ideally experience everything from being part of a work team, planning for work and productivity, managing time and problem-solving, to applying creativity within a work setting, and more.
While this model often requires a significant investment of time and resources from employers — it also provides significant benefits, including informed recruiting for permanent positions and productivity from the highly motivated individuals currently learning through work.
To ensure equitable access to opportunities, it is HIGHLY recommended that Learning through Work be paid opportunities, including internships, pre-apprenticeships, and other apprentice-type experiences. - Earn and Learn
In this model, employers plan and direct the learning experience – while schools, colleges, and other training providers play a support role. By their nature, these are paid learning experiences where learners serve as productive workers while they gain skills and specialization. Employers should also provide training “on the job” to support employee performance and reinforce classroom or laboratory learning.”
Employers generally take the lead in determining the topics or skills areas for instruction. Documentation of learning is key to the learn and earn experience because it ensures employees that they'll receive future credentials and industry certifications.
Description: "Earn-and-learn" models of on-the-job training paired with related instruction that culminates in recognized and transportable credentials.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning & Earning/Youth Apprentice
Goals and Metrics: 1. Provide earn and learn opportunities for specific occupations. 2. Increase opportunity for dual credentials. 3. Increase representation by underserved populations.
*Typically only available to individuals who have earned a high school diploma or GED.
Description: Programs and projects that combine community service with structured reflection emphasizing the connections between service experiences and academic learning.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning Reflects Work.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Expand awareness of community needs and engagement. 2. Deepen commitment to community in any occupation or field. 3. Gain industry experience and network.
Activities: Volunteer opportunities, organizer activities, community activism or service to individuals, households and organizations.
Description: Experiences and/or deliverables designed within programs of study to mimic work, productivity, and work standards.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning Reflects Work.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Early career preparation and experiences that meet with real-world expectations. 2. Expand Work-Based Learning participation.
Activities: Mini engagements with employers to complete specific work products or complete specific research projects.
Description: Short-term experience and employment exposure. May be paid or unpaid and result in credit or non-credit.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning Through Work. Specific experiences and/or deliverables designed within programs of study to mimic work, productivity, and work standards.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Develop work experience and professional networks. 2. Expand work-based learning participation. 3. Provide earn and learn opportunities for specific occupations. 4. Emphasize importance of paid opportunities especially for adult and low income earners.
Activities: Participating high schools must engage a licensed work-based learning coordinator to provide oversight.
Description: Partnerships between schools and employers to provide students with related classroom instruction, safety training, industry-recognized credentials and paid work experiences to 16- and17-year-old student learners in the industries of advanced manufacturing, agriculture, automotive, health care and information technology.
Work-Based Learning Model: On-the-job training in industry, paired with related coursework that should result in earning of an industry-recognized credential or certification.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Create school and employer partnerships; provide industry exposure opportunities. 2. Implement safe, healthy and meaningful paid work experiences. 3. Determine pathways to careers within these high-growth, in-demand industries. 4. Develop future talent, addressing the shortage of skilled employees.
Activities: Career exposure, industry-related classroom instruction, industry-recognized credentials, and paid work experiences in partnership with local schools and employers. Employers are reviewed and approved through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
Description: Adult learners are taught by other employees, supervisors, specialists, or vendors how to complete a task, operate machinery or understand concepts.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning & Earning/Adult Learners.
Goals and Metrics: Provide Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) or another avenue to continued education and economic advancement.
Description: "Earn while you learn" models of on-the-job training paired with related instruction that culminates in recognized and transportable credentials.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning & Earning/Adult Learners.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Provide earn and learn opportunities for specific occupations. 2. Increase opportunity for dual credentials. 3. Increase representation by underserved populations.
Description: Programs and projects that combine community service with structured reflection emphasizing the connections between service experiences and academic learning.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning Reflects Work.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Expand awareness of community needs and engagement. 2. Deepen commitment to community in any occupation or field. 3. Gain industry experience and network.
Activities: Volunteer opportunities, organizer activities, community activism or service to individuals, households and organizations.
Description: Experiences and/or deliverables designed within programs of study to mimic work, productivity, and work standards.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning Reflects Work.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Early career preparation and experiences that meet with real-world expectations. 2. Expanded WBL participation.
Activities: Mini engagements with employers to complete specific work products or complete specific research projects.
Description: Short term engagements of individuals or groups to provide real-world – industry focused outputs, research questions or deliverables. Short-term experience and employment exposure. May be paid or unpaid and result in credit or non-credit.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning Reflects Work.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Early career reparation and experiences. 2. Provide shareable evidence of job readiness. 3. Expanded work-based learning participation. 4. Fulfillment of mandated requirements.
Activities: Teacher and faculty led activities and projects. Engage employers in learning and assessment of results.
Description: Students produce and sell goods or services in a school-run operation and learn business and entrepreneur-ship skills.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning Through Work.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Provide service and products for sale in setting that supports learning. 2. Provide shareable evidence of job readiness.3. Expanded work-based learning participation
Activities: Teacher and faculty led activities and projects where employers are involved in learning and assessment of results.
Description: A program that teaches basic technical and job readiness skills to prepare for apprenticeship or identified occupations/jobs.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning Through Work.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Provide training for specific occupations. 2. Create pathway to higher wage/ employment for under-served populations. 3. Provide credit for prior learning or other avenue to continued education and economic advancement.
Activities: Partner with industry representatives and advisory group to develop a program that teaches workplace knowledge and skills.
Description: Development of knowledge and skills, often tied to an examination, resulting in industry recognized credential related to job placement or advancement. May be imbedded in academic program, provided as training, or learned independently.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning Through Work.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Provide credit for prior learning or articulation to continued education and economic advancement. 2. Imbed certification in programs of study to support employment and advancement.
Activities: Training, certification exam, or portfolio.
Description: Short-term experience and employment exposure. May be paid or unpaid and result in credit or non-credit.
Work-Based Learning Model: Learning Through Work. Specific experiences and/or deliverables designed within programs of study to mimic work, productivity, and work standards.
Goals and Metrics: 1. Develop work experience and professional networks. 2. Expanded work-based learning participation. 3. Provide earn and learn opportunities for specific occupations. 4. Emphasize importance of paid opportunities especially for adult and low-income earners.
Activities: College – faculty and/or career counselor supported
Contact Us
Whether you are looking for training for your workforce, help connecting to industry experts, or any other need, our trained support staff is available to answer your questions and connect you with resources.
Live chat, email questions, or call us to connect to solutions for your workforce. We look forward to assisting you!
Toll-free: 833-905-WORK
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