Their CBL process is student-driven and adult-supported, requiring parents, local businesses and educators to all work together as students take ownership of their future career aspirations. Rita O’Brien, Dean of Career Based Learning at AASD, stated, “Students need to understand who they are while experiencing opportunities that will allow them to find their passion. In the AASD we want all students to graduate with a dynamic ACP that will evolve from experiences, both in and out of school.” CBL experiences take place in the classroom, a business setting or an employer’s jobsite. These experiences allow students to better connect classroom learning to career awareness, career exploration and career planning activities that help students reach competencies such as positive work attitudes and employability skills.
Career-based
LEARNING
Preparing the Future Workforce The talk around talent is not an unfamiliar one for businesses in today’s world. Not only is it important to understand today’s talent needs and demands, but it is critical to ensure the future workforce generation is readily prepared to take on the world. The reality is, many jobs demand more than an academic degree and credentials, but also skills that are developed through training and onthe-job experiences. Employers are looking to hire individuals that display positive social skills such as self-respect and reliability as well as “soft skills” which include: effective communication, problem solving, conflict resolution and teamwork. Career-based learning (CBL) is an instructional strategy and key component to bridge the gap between education and business, and it is a valuable way to prep the future workforce. Furthermore, the Wisconsin State Legislature, has mandated that all schools implement Academic and Career Plans (ACP’s) into the curriculum for the 2017-18 school year for grades 6 through 12. An ACP is an educatorsupported planning process where students actively manage their learning, life and post-high school opportunities. All students will be personally responsible for developing his/her ACP. Student ownership ensures the career options and activities align with each student’s personal interests and abilities. Coaching, encouraging, and constructive critique are expected from parents, teachers and mentors. ACP’s provide a solid foundation for all students to be successful in their chosen path post-graduation. Career-based learning provides aid and enhances the ACP mandate by allowing students to be exposed, both in and outside of school, to
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various career opportunities, which connect personal interests and talents to academic success. Schools throughout the Fox Cities are infusing CBL experiences into their curriculum to help students prepare for and understand things they like and dislike as they embark on their journey after graduation. Students connect with industry and community professionals to experience real-world situations in order to learn about careers, education and training requirements, identify career interests and aptitudes while identifying a process to their future success. An example in the Fox Cities is evident within the Appleton Area School District (AASD). AASD was selected as a pilot school for implementing ACP’s and is focusing efforts on the development of career-based learning to allow their students to develop selfawareness and a personalized plan.
Career conversations ramp up in middle school and into high school as students are immersed in discussions for life after graduation. In order to be best prepared for these conversations and to develop their paths to future success, students explore a variety of opportunities that are available today and that will be in demand in the years to come when they enter the workforce. Cyndi Dechant, Appleton North High School Marketing Instructor, has made profound efforts to get students connected to real-world experiences. The Willems Student Marketing Team (WSMT) was created to expose students to on-the-job, real-world experiences where students have the ability to work with Willems Marketing in downtown Appleton. The students work directly on a portfolio of projects that provide tangible examples of professional experience. Most recently, WSMT students worked on a multitude of projects for Mile of Music 3.
Former student, Blake Ebben credits the Willems Student Marketing Team for preparing him for post-high school success by gaining valuable information about possible career choices, establishing a professional network of contacts and refining time management skills. Read more about Blake’s story on the next page. The Talent Collaborative, a division of the Fox Cities Chamber, focuses efforts on addressing talent challenges to make our region as prosperous as it can be today and in the future.
“The Talent Collaborative plays a vital role in bridging the gap among education and the workforce to provide students with valuable hands-on experiences in order for students to better understand future career options,” said Patty Milka, VP of Talent and Education at the Fox Cities Chamber. Among the many resources, programs and events offered through the Talent Collaborative is the Your Future 8th Grade Career Expo. During this one-day event, approximately 2,800 area 8th grade students are exposed to a variety of careers through trade show-like exhibits. In order to connect students to career-based learning experiences, the Talent Collaborative and its technology partner Omni Resources, developed Your Future Fox Cities. This innovative online platform was created to streamline connections for cultivating career-based learning experiences among students, educators and business professionals. The program efficiently provides a student-driven system for businesses to attract the next generation workforce through job shadows, informational interviews, business tours, classroom presentations and more. Exploration and exposure to the vast array of career opportunities is critical to engaging and preparing students for jobs in demand. Career-based learning bridges the gap among business and education and is key to equipping the future workforce for success. Get involved and register today to engage the future workforce on Your Future Fox Cities (www.yourfuturefoxcities.com) to begin connecting with students and educators to fulfill career-based learning experiences. Please contact Patty Milka or Emily Feagles at the Fox Cities Chamber for more information – (920) 734-7101.
“Students need to understand how to apply what they learn and the Fox Cities has many community members and resources available to help students make valuable future career connections,” stated Dechant.
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