Definitions

Work-Based Learning

The term ‘‘work-based learning’’ means sustained interactions with industry or community professionals in real workplace settings, to the extent practicable, or simulated environments at an educational institution that foster in-depth, firsthand engagement with the tasks required in a given career field, that are aligned to curriculum and instruction.

Work-Based Learning Intermediary

Please see the work-based learning intermediary page for more information and contacts.

Program of Study

A coherent, non-duplicative, standards-based sequence of courses, which integrates academic courses, employability/transferable skills, technical skills, and incorporates work-based learning opportunities when feasible and appropriate.

Safety Surveyor

Hawaii Department of Education employee who surveys a work site to ensure that it is a safe working environment for students and who have been trained to perform this task.

School-Approved Work-Based Learning Program

A program approved by the school principal that identifies specific work sites at which students will participate in work-based learning experience. The program will include documentation of:

1. Principal’s approval for each work site

2. Annual site safety survey, completed by a trained department employee

3. Training Agreement

4. Training Plan

School-Based Learning Experience

A student learning experience on the school campus related to the course content in the students’ program of study

School Site Coordinator

A teacher or other department employee responsible for the following:

1. Serves as point of contact for employers, parents and students specific to the WBL experience

2. Counsel students before, during, and at the exit of the WBL experience

3. Monitors WBL experience for safety

4. Develops the Training Plan and Agreement with the student, family, and employer

5. Evaluates student performance

6. Maintains all documentation for the WBL experience (Documents should be kept for 5 years)

School’s workers’ compensation designee

The person at the school or school complex who is responsible for initiating and filing all paperwork required should a student make a claim for workers’ compensation.

Training Plan

The contract which stipulates the tasks, skills, knowledge, and behaviors that will be learned and/or exhibited by the students as a result of the work-based learning experience

Work Site

A place of work in the private sector and also includes not-for-profit and non-profit entities

Work Site Mentor

An employee or other individual, approved by the employer at a work site, who provides supervision, instruction, guidance, assessment of student performance and works in consultation with classroom teacher or school site coordinator

Internship

A sustained professional work experience aligned with a career pathway that applies classroom learning and builds skills in an authentic workplace environment. Internships can be paid or unpaid and students may have the option to earn credit toward their pathway completion.

Externship

Similar to an internship. Usually shorter in duration than an internship and aligned directly with training coursework in an educational setting. Depending on the workforce sector, externship may also be called practicum, field work, residency, etc.