Working With On-Site Training Stations
A student’s training sponsor (i.e., direct supervisor) is responsible for creating work opportunities and assignments to meet the objectives outlined in the student’s individual training plan. The training sponsor is also responsible for providing regular guidance and feedback on the student’s performance.
This section provides a work-based learning timeline to outline the critical tasks for implementing WBL on-site training.
WBL Timeline for On-Site Training Stations
Beginning of the School Year
Within the first 10 days of school, the teacher-coordinator will:
establish and communicate classroom expectations and routine; and
establish and review the WBL record-keeping system with students;
Within the first 30 days of school, the teacher-coordinator will:
Complete, file, and distribute training plans for all practicum students.
Training plans must be on file BEFORE the student begins training at the work site.
Weekly Activities
Teacher-coordinators must deliver one hour per day (on average per week) of classroom instruction based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for that course
Students must attend WBL training in class and/or onsite at their training station, summarize their activities and accomplishments, turn in timecards and weekly training reports, and update their yearly wage and hour report or yearly report of work-based training hours.
WBL training sponsors create work opportunities and assignments to meet objectives outlined in the students' training plans and provide guidance and feedback on students' work performances.
Each Grading Period
TEA recommends that for each grading period/semester, WBL teacher-coordinators follow a regular process for gathering student records needed for evaluating, guiding, and grading students' performance.
Site Visits, Evaluations, and Grades
Step 1: Prepare
Schedule training site visits.
Distribute student evaluation forms to training sponsors mid-way through the grading period to allow time for employers to complete them.
Step 2: Collect
Make training site visits.
At least one site visit must be made to each student’s training station during each grading period, with a minimum of six visits per school year.
Complete documentation regarding training site visits, including travel forms and other forms required by local policies.
Collect employer evaluations.
Step 3: Tally
Tabulate employer evaluations.
Update semester tally report of total hours and wages for each student.
Follow district policies for assigning and submitting student grades for grading periods.
Each Semester
For each semester, the teacher-coordinator should
review and update student records for each new semester (i.e., employer information, addresses, etc.);
assign and submit student grades for semester credit following district policies; and
complete and submit required reports to the career and technical education (CTE) director.
End of School Year
At the end of the school year, WBL teacher teachers close out all records and grades for the current year and begin their preparation for the next CTE program cycle. To prepare for the next year, teacher-coordinators:
review and update the database of prospective and current employers; and
review and update the preliminary list of the students expected in the fall.
Training Sponsor Evaluations
The employer receives an evaluation form as part of his or her initial orientation. Training sponsor evaluation forms should provide a rubric that the training sponsor can use to document a student’s performance on relevant knowledge, skills, and employability traits. The rubric should make it easy for the training sponsor to assign scores based on the student’s level of performance.
Training Sponsor Evaluation of a Student Trainee - Digital Version (recommended)
Training Sponsor Evaluation of a Student Trainee - Print Version
Weekly Training Reports & Student Journals
Weekly Training Reports
Weekly training reports should be used to summarize a student’s work-based learning experience for the week and should be completed by the student. Weekly training reports should include:
number of hours worked;
amount of wages earned;
description of the activities performed; and
notes on any unusual, interesting, or challenging events that may have occurred.
Journals
Requiring students to keep a journal of their work experience is considered a WBL best practice.
A journal is an excellent tool for keeping lines of communication open between the student and teacher, and a way teachers can become aware of existing or potential problems at a training station, or areas where a student needs additional support.
Teachers should be sure to include a way to give weekly feedback. Writing short comments back to students can evoke more thoughtful entries in the future and help students learn to write more clearly.
