{"id":19444,"date":"2024-03-19T03:28:18","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T03:28:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/blog\/why-work-based-learning-works\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T03:53:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T08:53:18","slug":"why-work-based-learning-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en-ca\/resources\/blog-posts\/why-work-based-learning-works\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Work-Based Learning Works\u2014And How You Can Incorporate It Into Your College and Career Readiness Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s nothing like work-based learning to help students evaluate their fit for a career and help them develop valuable 21st century skills.<\/b><\/h2>\n

As a high school student, I knew what I liked (English class, social sciences) and what I didn\u2019t (math). But when it came to<\/span> planning a future career<\/span><\/a>, I consistently drew a blank. I envied my classmates who were certain they wanted to be a teacher, veterinarian, or engineer.<\/span>
\n<\/span> Seeing my struggle, my school counselor suggested I take advantage of the school\u2019s internship program. After assessing my strengths and preferences, we decided a stint at our small town\u2019s newspaper might be a good fit.<\/span>
\n<\/span> At first, I sat quietly at the desks of reporters as they chased stories, did phone interviews, and conducted research. In time, I graduated to writing obituaries. Eventually I got my first story assignment, which led to regular articles, including a front-page byline.<\/span>
\n<\/span> By the end of the semester, I was certain I wanted to study journalism in university. And my experience at the newspaper gave me an edge over other applicants. With first-hand knowledge of the anatomy of a news article, I aced my entry tests and had my pick of top-rated journalism programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Read ACTE Whitepaper: Delivering Real-World Experiences Through Work-Based Learning<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n
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My Work-based Learning Experience Helped in College Too\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

The advantages of the internship experience didn\u2019t end there. When I got to university, some of the introductory classes covered material I\u2019d already learned by doing.<\/span>
\n<\/span> With a head start on reporting, interviewing, and writing news articles, I navigated those early months with confidence. Although I still had a lot to learn, I drew on the soft skills I\u2019d begun to develop on the job, like communication, organization, listening, and attention to detail\u2014critical for my chosen career.<\/span>
\n<\/span> All of this because I once applied my strengths to a work-based learning opportunity.<\/span>
\n<\/span> While programs like my internships have existed for decades, their value is beginning to reach critical mass as employers increasingly express dissatisfaction with the preparedness of graduates entering the workforce.<\/span>
\n<\/span> A 2019 study found that 73 per cent of employers perceived that it was \u201cvery or somewhat difficult\u201d to find qualified candidates for jobs. About 34 per cent reported that educational institutions<\/span>have not properly prepared students for jobs.<\/span>
\n<\/span> Work-based learning<\/span><\/a> may be one of the key factors for helping students choose and prepare for a career that fits them, and develop the 21st century skills we all need in today\u2019s workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Work-Based Learning (WBL)?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Any instructional strategies or programs that serve to connect the classroom and real workplace settings can be considered work-based learning.<\/span>
\n<\/span>WBL provides essential firsthand engagement with the workplace for students.\u00a0 It could be as structured as a well-defined apprenticeship or internship program or as easy to implement as a classroom-assigned research project that requires students to learn from someone in the working world.<\/span>
\n<\/span> Many school districts across the U.S. have integrated, federally supported career and technical education (CTE) programs designed to prepare students for real-world careers.<\/strong>
\n<\/span> Although most of these focus on technical skills, including trades, work-based learning can include more academic pursuits.<\/span>
\n<\/span> Drawing on recent research, policy literature and federal legislation, the U.S. Department of Education reports that a<\/span> comprehensive work-based learning program<\/span> should contain three components:<\/span><\/p>\n