This document discusses expanding partnerships between businesses and schools to support work-based learning (WBL). It provides an overview of WBL definitions, outcomes, and criteria from ConnectEd and the National Academy Foundation. Participants brainstormed new and traditional roles for business partners in WBL and advisory boards. Benefits to businesses include improved employee skills and a stronger local workforce. The document outlines strategies for developing strong partnerships, such as clearly defining partner roles and having regular communication. It also discusses broadening the definition of WBL to include more experiences across grade levels. The implications of an expanded WBL definition for businesses could include more engagement opportunities.
2. Purpose and Overview Expand our thinking about business and community involvement Review and reflect on new definition of involvement Identify and develop new strategies of engagement Understand what gets results and what doesn’t work Identify action steps
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4. CE/NAF Alignment of WBL Career Practicum: Definitions, Outcomes, and Criteria, Gold Standards Connect NAF Draft Guide to Work-based Learning NAF WBL Assessment
5. CE/NAF Alignment of WBL Marketing Ideas Tools and Sample Calendars Field Review Draft of Definitions, Criteria, Outcomes Gold Standards Connect Guides to Logistics and Legal Curriculum Student Portfolio NAF Guide to WBL Professional Development NAF WBL Assessment
6. Traditional Roles Business and Community partners What are some of the ways business are now involved? Introduce yourselves to one another Select a recorder/reporter Table group brainstorm
7. Roles of Business and Industry Advisory Board Member Approve curriculum and competencies Field Trip Sites Guest Speaker Tutor/Mentor Provide resources Provide Internship Lower commitment More commitment
9. Additional/New roles Develop a vision, mission and strategy Help to define student outcomes Support the creation of the pathway Provide teacher job shadowing/externship opportunities Provide project ideas/demonstrate real-world application Assess student work Developing a broad-based coalition at the district level Committed Really committed
10. Developing a District System Broad-based Community Coalition School District Supports, Sustains, Pushes Supports Supports Pathways/Academies Theme-based Integrated Curriculum and Work-based Learning
24. Tips on Developing Business Partners Leveraging formal partners for outreach Informal networking family neighbors social circles Always on the look out At the party On the airplane At the grocery store
25. What are the benefits to business? Brainstorm with your table team Record Report out
26. Return on investment for business Reasons for being involved Improved employee learning, productivity and morale Favorable publicity Increased networking Increased diversity Clearer focus for future engagement A stronger system for developing skilled workers in the industry Greater exposure in the market(s) served by the company
28. Return on Investment A national study on employer investments in work-based learning found that for every dollar invested, companies saw a return on investment ranging from $0.40 to $5.64. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
29. What doesn’t work Asking for money Not having an “ask” No clear role/no structure Not listening to the advice or having an answer for every suggestion “Yeah, we tried that” or “We’re doing that already” Overly complicated Not engaging partners with students
30. How to build a strong, well run advisory board Structure: Business chair Communication system Clearly defined mission/action plan, bylaws Agendas and minutes from meetings with clear action steps, owners, and deadlines Action on recommendations Hearing feedback from students Providing a sense of true engagement Clear about the “ask” at all times Inviting suggestions and listening to them Formally and informally recognizing partner’s contributions
31. Calendar and protocol for active engagement Ideal strategy for true engagement: Monthly meetings Periodic focused updates: Fall- Setting the goals for the year, establishing the vision, mission and goals Winter- focus on WBL opportunities Review fall plan to ensure you are on track Spring – review data, celebrate successes, reward students End of year: Survey partners for ideas related to continuous improvement
32. Work-based Learning as a Primary Role Why do Work-based Learning? What student outcomes do you anticipate from a Work-based learning experience? Are there new ways to achieve these outcomes? What are the implications for engaging businesses?
33. Broadening the definition of WBL http://www.connectedcalifornia.org/files/WBLDefinitionCriteriaOutcomes.pdf
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35. Grades K-4 5-8 9-12 13+ Career Awareness Career Exploration “Career Practicum” Career Preparation Clinical Internship Career Day Work-study Field Trip Job Shadow Mentor/Tutor Guest Speaker Apprenticeship Company Tour Service Learning Virtual Enterprise On the job Training Employment Training Student-run Enterprise Cooperative Education Project Related Internship Problem or Project-based Research
36. New Ways to Engage Business Partners http://www.connectedcalifornia.org/toolkit_areas/video/dmd_wbl.f4v/last:6
37. Question What are the implications of this new definition on the business community?
38. Next Steps What actions steps will you take back to your team from today?
39. Resources WBL in CA Report - Irvine Foundation New Ways to Work AB 2648 Report – WestEd or CDE The Gold Standards for HS Internships - National Academy Foundation Partnership Guide - CASN
40. Additional Information National Academy Foundation Website: www.naf.org Cindy McHugh cmchugh@naf.org ConnectEd Website: www.ConnectEdCalifornia.org Rob Atterbury ratterbury@ConnectEdCalifornia.org
Editor's Notes
Story of being bumped at a school
What does work:Hint that it involves much of what we ask of students to be successful: Communication, Follow-through, ownership and setting measurable goals with a specific timeframe.What doesn’t work: Talk through scenarios during table discussion of when a partnership worked well and why. Talk through challenges at engaging partners/problem solve.
Why did we decide to do this session? Combined resources
Some future efforts include developing some tools for the field
When thinking about opportunities for initial engagement, ask yourself the following:-Who (who is already connected/familiar with our academy that could help with outreach, who is located in the geographic region, who would have a vested interest in our academy theme)-What (what do the partners want to get out of their involvement, what is a specific area of expertise, skill, trade, story they can share, what are they willing to support or champion)-Why (Work together to commit to a specific goal such as improved attendance, higher enrollment, high numbers of students applying to two and four year colleges or trade schools, attainment of industry-specific skills)-When (set a time-frame of when will each objective be completed and intermediate steps needed to achieve overall goals)
Validate audience feedback/brainstorm
Move partners from stakeholders to stockholders (fully engaged with ownership of work)
6 minute videoOne of the things NAF/ConnectEd are thinking about: District level of support.Example of broad-based coalition
Describe what goes into current condition “what stage of AB development are you in”Focus on current conditionChange language and layoutProvide examples for each stageEdit as headers with examples
Rob: I moved this slide since it seemed to flow better as we move from broad examples down to more specific examples of partner engagement/Advisory Board developmentOnce you’ve established where you are, Defining “ask”What do you want to considerSee prompt questions from RobHow do you grow your community of partnersFocus on expertise and skillsWhy: Id specific goals/outcomes/increase relevancyTime boundSpend time brainstorming in dialogueAction plan-what actions should you take to improve in specific areas?
Brainstorm
Brainstorm
Update and add to listRob to check on Boeing video on how he got involved in partnering with academy
Video Example- NAF JD
-Set objectives (see Advisory Board storymap)Agendas/Minutes: Quick turn-around
Brainstorm: If you were to meet monthly, how to keep focused/momentumFrequently enough to structure your year to meet objectivesGet feedback
Insert/replace with slide showing documents available to support AB/WBL workUpdate document (distribute)
Replace with updated slideEngage audience with defining outcomes for career awareness and prep
Edit to show 2 examples and discuss as groups
How does this meet the outcomes? What are the implications for school/business?Review outcomes and think about how you would utilize this?Share out (examples)In-session networking
