Work Based Learning: Definitions

The Arizona Department of Education Career and Technical Education Work Based Learning Guide is intended to assist districts and schools with the development and embedding of work-based learning in CTE programs.

What is Work Based Learning?

 

Perkins DefinitionWBL Experiences Must
WBL Experiences CanWBL Primary Goal
Work Based Learning ContinuumWBL vs Lab Practice Examples 

 

 

Giving students valuable experience in career decision making are vital elements of the WBL Continuum and CTE Programs. Job shadowing, guest speakers, and field trips prior to a WBL experience can help determine appropriate opportunities for individual student needs and goals. High-quality programs of study do not merely provide students with isolated workplace exposure. Programs should work to develop a continuum of experiences that progress in intensity from workplace tours and job shadowing to school-based enterprises, internships, and apprenticeships.

  • Job shadow, guest speakers, and field trips do provide business and industry involvement related to Indicator 5 of ADE Quality and Compliance Monitoring. Using such experiences qualify as community involvement, industry partner involvement, as well as career exploration.
  • Job shadow, guest speakers, and field trips being based in career awareness and exploration lack application of knowledge and skills and will not be considered Work Based Learning Experience.

  • Many districts track their Work Based Learning experiences with products from vendors. Some of those identify job shadow, field trips, and guest speakers as WBL. For ADE Program Monitoring Services, those experiences can only be used for Indicator 5d as tangible, financial, and technical support to the program.

 

  • Districts can use these systems to track any application of technical standard application of knowledge and skills such as scenario/simulation, internships, SAE, SBE, clinicals, or any other type of WBL.