Work-Based Learning is essential to effective career development. Career Development is a process to increase self-awareness by engaging a student in identifying their own level of career readiness, employability skills, and technical skills. The Nebraska Workplace Experiences Continuum identifies three phases in this process: Career Awareness, Career Exploration, and Work-Based Learning (WBL). WBL allows students to use their skills directly in workplaces to discover what it may be like to work in different occupations. This process is highly effective to evaluate and determine postsecondary career goals which aligns with interests, skills, and work values. WBL is essential to effective career development. For more information about the career development process, please check out the Nebraska Career Development Toolkit. WBL is one of Nebraska’s Perkins V Strategic Priorities. WBL strategies connect learners with employers to prepare them for success in an ever-changing workplace. WBL is a planned program of meaningful experiences related to the career interests of a learner that enable them to acquire knowledge and skills in a real or simulated work setting. It requires strong partnerships between schools, colleges, and local employers. WBL is learning through work, not simply learning about work.

NDE's Work-Based Learning Quickstart Guide