Background – Why Work Based Learning Programs are Critical

Research shows that work based learning programs are critical and this article will discuss how visibility improves work based learning. When students go off to college, they are 80% more likely to graduate if they know why they are there.   This is the reason why ESSA, state requirements, and Perkins grants are all incorporating these program outcomes.  Work based learning can help students improve academically by drawing a concrete connection between how the things they learn in the classroom are connected to the real world.  It’s also a great way to explore career options.  Students benefit from work based learning through:

• Application of classroom learning (both academic and technical) in a real-world setting
• Establishment of a clear connection between school and work
• Assessment of their interests, aptitudes, and abilities while learning about the career possibilities available to them
• A network of professional relationships / connections
• Dramatic improvement of their immediate post graduation employment opportunities
• An increased motivation / appreciation for staying in school
• Awareness of postsecondary education opportunities

But it is really so much more than that — especially for at-risk student populations.  At Transeo, we believe that work based learning is an economic and equity engine that leads students to:

• Long term economic mobility and agility
• Increased engagement and attendance while in school
• A sense of purpose and passion for their career
• Realization of their full potential

Because if students can’t see it, they can’t dream it and if they can’t dream it,  they can’t be it!

Scaling Work Based Learning

As economic gaps widen and technology rapidly reshapes our workforce, it is more important than ever for students to gain practical experience as part of a work based learning program.   According to a recent survey by Adecco, 92% of executives don’t think American workers are as skilled as they need to be.  “This skills gap limits economic growth and is also a missed opportunity for low-skilled, low-wage workers who could fill these better-paying positions with the right training.”

Despite the realization that we need to expand workplace learning programs to all students, they are difficult to scale because providing high quality, rigorous, and work based learning experiences requires managing complex logistics across multiple stakeholders including:

• Students
• Business partners
• Intermediaries
• Program administrators
• Superintendents and administrators
• State and federal agencies

Robust work based learning programs require employers, school districts, support organizations, schools, and students to interact in complicated and layered ways.   As students move across the continuum of work based learning, employer / student engagement increases, making interactions and tracking even more complex.

Unfortunately, 93% of these vital programs are still managed on paper, providing no visibility and little scale.

The Advantages of Visibility in a Work Based Learning Software (2 min video)

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CEO,  Dr. Don Fraynd – PhD, discusses how a software increases the impact of your program for every stakeholder

The primary function of a work based learning software is to take a very complicated process and make it simpler for students and business partners to connect.  When a program manager creates business partnerships at scale, they need to curate:

• Internships
• Career ready activities
• Sets of tasks for students to complete
• Work based experiences
• Shadow days

And, at scale, they need to manage 100s if not 1000s of students across hundreds of sites.  As a result of this complexity, program managers, schools, and districts often get crushed by the sheer paperwork and either don’t or can’t take advantage of all the rich resources available for students in the community.  Many business partners cannot offer their opportunities because there is no effective or organized way for them to interface with the school and students.

A software immediately eliminates this issue with a simple interface.

Companies can create an account (or the district admin can on their behalf) and a company profile that allows them to:

• Identify what they would like students to do
• Provide background on their people and their organization
• Manage the day to day interactions with the district and students

Students can:

• Identify their passions
• Track their career ready journey
• Match interest to opportunities

Students can access the marketplace of available opportunities from a mobile device, identify their interests, look for interesting experiences, apply for those experiences, and then securely communicate with mentors and school personnel.

Simultaneously, partners and work based learning program managers can communicate back with students, creating a totally closed loop for onboarding, business partner background checks, program management, and badging / credentialing.

At the end of the day, district leaders have the ability to produce rich ad-hoc reports and analyses on the impact of all those experiences. They will have immediate access to:

• Where their students are at a given time across the community
• How many hours have they logged
• What types of activities students are engaged in
• Progress of students in completing required activities and tasks
• What types of experiences students are engaged in
• Next steps in students’ career journeys
• What certifications and badges they have completed

By replacing paper, the complicated world of postsecondary readiness is immediately transformed, making administration simple so schools and educators can focus on finding the best opportunities for kids and setting them up for success in the future.

How Are Your Stakeholders Impacted? (40 sec video)

Dr. Lazaro Lopez, Current Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning and a Senior Advisor at Transeo explains how a software provides scale for award winning work based learning programs.

About Transeo

Transeo was founded by educators and for educators because we believe community service and work based learning programs not only increase future chances of success, but foster active citizenship to  build resilient communities.

Why We Developed Transeo Jobs (40 sec video)

Dr. David Schuler, Transeo Co-Founder, explains the passion and drivers of our software

Our entire team believes in a future where students are defined by determination, resilience, and hard work.  We also believe that the future starts with giving students tools like Transeo Jobs and Transeo Serve to unlock their potential, help others, and transform their community.

Don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more.

Together, we can empower students to work to full potential through rich work based learning and community service programs.

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