Work Based Learning (WBL)

All high school students are encouraged to participate in some sort of WBL during their high school career.

All Career and Technical education courses in North Carolina offer work-based learning opportunities for students. Work-based learning opportunities for each course are identified with its course description.

• Apprenticeship: a system of skilled occupational training that combines practical work experiences with related academic and technical instruction.

• Business and Industry Field Trip: a short-term visit to a business or agency expands the learning opportunities for participating students.

• Cooperative Education: a method of instruction where technical classroom instruction is combined with paid employment that is directly related to the classroom instruction.

• Entrepreneurial Experience: involves students developing knowledge and proficiency in running a business. Students gain work-place skills and develop an understanding of how to manage a business and are responsible for all risks.

• Internship: a work-based learning experience where a student participates in the daily operations of a work site under the direct supervision of a business mentor. Students must pass the pathway concentrator course and internship course for the internship to count as a career pathway major course.

• Job Shadowing: a short-term (usually a half day) educational experience that introduces a student to a particular job or career by pairing the student with an employee of a business, industry, or agency.

• Mentorship: involves pairing a student (mentee or protégé) with a community professional (mentor) in a one-to-one relationship with the intent of providing first-hand experience in a career field/cluster of the student’s choice.

• School Based Enterprise: a simulated or actual business conducted by a school that creates a student learning experience that creates direct links between the classroom learning and the world of work.

• Service Learning: a work-based learning strategy that combines community service with Career and Technical learning goals. Students provide volunteer service to public and non-profit agencies, as well as to civic, charitable, and governmental organizations in the local community.

*Definitions taken from North Carolina CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSE INVENTORY AND ESSENTIAL STANDARDS