Course Description
Work Experience Education is an elective class that combines paid employment with classroom instruction. Students attend their own jobs during the week or weekend, and also attend a class session once a week at school online or by appointment. Students will develop: positive work habits and attitude, self-confidence, job skills, and a personal electronic portfolio which can be used to locate, secure, and retain employment in the community.
Students must have teacher-approved, legal employment while enrolled in this elective. Course grade and credit is earned by completion of the course requirements which include attending class/jobsite during assigned hours, submitting work schedules, keeping attendance reports, completing class assignments, submitting required forms, and maintaining employment.
The course curriculum includes: how to get a job, keep a job, leave a job, economic awareness, and career awareness. Students will develop an electronic portfolio, which shows the abilities, knowledge, and skills achieved. Students will receive a course certificate upon completion of the portfolio and two quarters of Work Experience Education.
Content Standards
Students in high school (grades 9-12) pursue in-depth study of social studies content that equips them with the knowledge and skills required for success in the skilled workplace and civic life.
Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies: Substrand 4: Microeconomic Concepts
Standard 5 Individuals, businesses and governments interact and exchange goods, services and resources in different ways and for different reasons; interactions between buyers and sellers in a market determine the price and quantity exchanged of a good, service or resource.
Strand: 1. Citizenship and Government sub-strand: 3. Rights and Responsibilities 4. Individuals in a republic have rights, duties and responsibilities. Benchmark and Code: 9.1.3.4.5 Explain the responsibilities and duties for all individuals (citizens and non-citizens) in a republic.
For example: Paying taxes, obeying the law, responding to government requests such as subpoenas, informed participation in voting and public decision-making, developing and defending positions on public policy issues, monitoring, influencing decision making.
(I have also decided to include the National ASCA Content Standards that directly applies to Work Based Learning, that I received from my Bethel Instructor whom also works for the MN Dept. of Ed.) STANDARD C: Students will understand the relationship of academics to the world of work and to life at home and in the community.
A:C1 Relate School to Life Experiences
A:C1.3 Understand the relationship between learning and work
C:A1.4 Learn how to interact and work cooperatively in teams
C:A2.2 Apply job readiness skills to seek employment opportunities
The uniqueness of offering credit for a learning experience off-campus in a community classroom and in-school job sites such as the Bulldog Café and the Dawg House School Store, enables students to gain a greater variety of learning. Students should realize that it is a privilege to leave campus and have a recognized on-the-job learning situation. Work Experience Education students must accept certain responsibilities along with the benefits of this program.
Grades will be determined by:
100%
Credit will be determined by:
Tentative Weekly Calendar
Week 1 Course Overview-Training Agreement (read it, and get it signed by all involved parties)
Week 2 Labor Laws/Hazardous Occupations/Training Plan (Read training plan and get it signed by all involved parties)
Week 3 Labor Laws/Wage and Hour/Sexual Harassment (Power Point with voice, and short videos-watch and respond to discussion questions.)
Week 4 Getting a Job/Portfolio Assignment (Labor Law Quiz)
Week 5 Resumes and References
Week 6 Employment Applications
Week 7 Employment Interview Skills
Week 8 Interview Questions and Discrimination (Interview Quiz)
Week 9 Forms: W-4’s and I-9’s
Week 10 Portfolio Assignments Continued /Employer Evaluation
Week 11 Attitude and Reliability Survey/Employer Expectations-Raises and Promotions
Week 12 Portfolio Assignments Continued
Week 13 Don’t Get Fired/Employer Expectations-Alcohol/Drug Testing
Week 14 Job Shadow Experience and Packet (Note: I have this created already)
Week 15 Job Safety/Worker’s Rights
Week 16 Employee Contracts/Independent Contractors
Week 17 Income Taxes/Wrongful Termination
Week 18 Income Taxes/Leaving a Job/Letter of Resignation
There are several units that we cover within this course. The following are detailed descriptions:
Career Awareness
In this course, students complete career and interest inventories, assess their current skills and record their employment experiences. In addition, students are given the opportunity to tour some local businesses, to see first-hand the jobs others do, what education and training is required and a chance to see if they might be interested in this type of employment. Students work towards setting realistic goals for a possible career path.
Job Skills
In this course students learn about the world of work. Topics taught include developing employability skills, on-the-job safety, career awareness, problem-solving on the job, and developing a lifework plan. A referral process is used for this program with recommendations made by a parent, school social worker, program facilitator, case manager or the work experience coordinator.
Employability Skills
Students practice filling out applications, and practice their interviewing skills, by completing a mock interview. Students can create or update a personal resume and reference list. Other information covered in this class includes the job search process, starting the job and maintaining it, and also the appropriate steps required when leaving a job. Students will learn how to better understand their paychecks.
Supported Job Search
Students meet regularly with me to complete the processes of getting a job with assistance. Students will use a variety of tools to locate jobs in the community. Students will have assistance with filling out applications and personality tests. Students will make sure their resume is updated and have references to hand in with applications. Staff will provide opportunities for pre interview questions and transportation to the interview. Students will also be guided through the follow-up process. A student may also complete a career assessment or be placed in a job shadow work experience. The student will learn how to appropriately ask for and access disability accommodations needed for successful employment.
Career Exploration
Students are placed in the community at various sites from two to three hours per day for six to eight weeks. They are directly supervised by a job coach and receive a work incentive pay from the school for meeting individual goals. This program gives students initial exposure to work in the community and allows for exploration in several career areas.
Community-Based Independent Employment
Community-based placement provides individual initial training by staff if needed and/or by employer as well as monitoring by a Work Coordinator. Employees receive minimum wage or higher.