Work-Based Learning Continuum
WBL provides meaningful workplace experiences that develop academic, technical, and employability skills for career advancement. It benefits individuals across experience levels, including K-12 students, postsecondary learners, adult jobseekers, and incumbent workers. WBL activities span a continuum of phases:
Awareness: Foundational activities introduce learners to career domains, sparking interest through events outside the workplace.
Exposure: Short-term experiences offer insights into industries and roles through first-hand interaction with worksites, environments, and professionals.
Engagement: Structured, immersive opportunities let participants perform workplace responsibilities, enhancing technical and employability skills.
Immersion: Long-term roles integrate formal instruction with hands-on training, often leading to industry-recognized credentials.
As activities progress along the continuum, they deepen in duration, employer interaction, and workplace engagement. While later phases offer the most robust outcomes, sustained exposure across all phases maximizes impact, particularly for populations historically underrepresented in the workforce.
Awareness
- College and Career Fairs
- Interest Inventories
- Industry Projections
- Mock Interviews
- Guest Speakers
Exposure
- Job Shadows
- Field Trips & Company Tours
- Mentorship
- Simulations
Engagement
- Internships
- Pre-apprenticeships
- Service Learning
- School-Based Enterprises
Immersion
- Apprenticeships
- Transitional Jobs
- Clinical Experiences
- Certifications
