SHARON W. ACUFF SPECIALIST, MARKETING AND RELATED CLUSTERS Determining the Need for Work-Based Learning

Conduct a Local Needs Assessment Conduct a local needs assessment to determine the need for WBL and which WBL methods will be supported by the community and the students  Develop materials to introduce and explain WBL to students and training sponsors  Conduct a student interest survey to determine career interests, and ascertain eligibility for WBL and interest in participating  Appoint a steering committee of teachers and/or appropriate school personnel to survey local businesses to determine the number of training stations in the community in which students participating in WBL might be placed Source: Career and Technical Education Work-Based Learning Guide, 2014, page 19

Provide an Orientation Session Provide an orientation to the steering committee that includes the following:  Statements of commitment and support for WBL from school administrators, school counselors, and teachers  An overview of the benefits of WBL to the student, school, training sponsor, and community. (sample list of benefits)  Information on the proposed programs/courses that will use one or more WBL methods of instruction  An overview of labor-market information, indicating current and projected employment opportunities in the local community Source: Career and Technical Education Work-Based Learning Guide, 2014, page 19; Sample list of benefits, page 22-23

Conduct a Training Sponsor Survey Steps in conducting a training sponsor survey should include the following: Develop a list of businesses to be surveyed Develop a list of other useful contacts Design the survey with a cover letter (sample) Develop procedures for conducting the survey Develop plans for “selling” WBL to potential training sponsors Develop methods for tabulating and summarizing the data collected from the survey Plan follow-up procedures for all contacts Source: Career and Technical Education Work-Based Learning Guide, 2014, pages 19-21

Why do a Training Sponsor Interest Survey? The survey should result in information that will allow WBL planners to determine potential training sponsors in the community establish the willingness of these potential sponsors to support WBL determine the types of WBL experience(s) a sponsor might provide reveal the employment needs of the community determine the educational training required for employment in the business or industry identify credentials recognized by the industry identify the organizational patterns and equipment used in the business or industry discover whether employment tests are used, and, if so, the kinds administered identify approximate local starting salaries for the particular business or industry Source: Career and Technical Education Work-Based Learning Guide, 2014, pages 21 Sample Training Sponsor Cover Letter and Survey, page 24-26

Why do a Student Interest Survey? The survey of the students should reveal interests and talents of the students student’s willingness to participate in WBL career objectives of the students needs of the students educational qualifications of students for participation number of potentially eligible student-learners extent of student familiarity with WBL methods Source: Career and Technical Education Work-Based Learning Guide, 2014, page 21 Sample Student Interest Survey, page 27-28