Work-based Learning Opportunities

Work-Based Learning Menu for Faculty

This menu provides flexible, ready-to-use options to integrate Work-Based Learning (WBL) into your existing curriculum. Each activity supports career-connected instruction and can be adapted to fit general education courses.

1. Informational Interview Assignment (Career Exploration)

What it is: Students conduct a short interview with a professional in a field of interest.

Faculty Implementation Tips:

• Provide resources on how to conduct an informational interview
• Select an industry or job role they are curious about (general field like education, health, or media).
• Use a provided email template to request a 30-45 minute interview.
• Conduct interview (in person or virtual).
• Submit a reflection or summary as part of a class assignment.

2. Micro-Internship or Project-Based Work (Skill Application)

What it is: Students complete short, real-world projects from local employers or campus departments.

Faculty Implementation Tips:

• Browse short-term project listings via Penguin Jobs or Parker Dewey for micro-internships.
• Apply with a resume and short interest statement.
• Complete project in 5–20 hours with feedback from employer or staff.
• Submit a short reflection or presentation in class.
• Add the project to a resume or digital portfolio.

3. Service Learning in Gen Ed Courses

What it is: Integrates community service with coursework (e.g., sociology, environmental science).

Faculty Implementation Tips:

• Select a course with a service-learning component or opportunity for the service learning.
• Choose from pre-approved projects (e.g., tutor ESL students, assist with a park cleanup, volunteer at a food pantry).
• Participate in 6–10 hours of service.
• Reflect on their experience through a paper, presentation, or discussion.
• Get documented hours for résumé or scholarship applications.

4. On-Campus Job with Career Skills Focus

What it is: Student employment in a role that builds transferable skills (e.g., customer service, communication).

Faculty Implementation Tips:

• Apply for roles like Library Assistant, Student Ambassador, or Peer Tutor.
• Complete job duties while meeting with a supervisor monthly to reflect on skills used.
• Participate in a mid-semester “career skills check-in” to identify growth areas.
• Create a final résumé including this experience.

5. Career-Connected Guest Speaker Series (Career Exposure)

What it is: A series of lunchtime or evening talks from professionals in broad fields like healthcare, education, or communications.

Faculty Implementation Tips:

• Register for at least 2 speaker events (in-person or via Zoom).
• Attend and take notes or submit a short question for each speaker.
• Complete a post-event reflection assignment (could be linked to a class or optional for extra credit).
• Connect with speakers on LinkedIn or email for follow-up.

6. Job Shadowing & Reflection Project

What it is: One-time shadowing experience (2–4 hours) at a workplace.

Faculty Implementation Tips:

• Choose from a pre-approved job shadow host list (coordinated by Career Services).
• Submit a request form with top 3 choices and availability.
• Attend the job shadowing day and observe various roles.
• Complete a structured reflection: “What surprised you?”, “What skills did you observe?”
• Share insights during a group debrief session or through a short presentation.

7. Career ePortfolio Creation (Capstone-Style Project)

What it is: Students build a digital portfolio to document and showcase general education learning and career readiness.

Faculty Implementation Tips:

• Attend an ePortfolio setup session (using Google Sites, maybe Suitable?, etc.).
• Upload samples of general education work (essays, group projects, presentations).
• Add a resume, cover letter, and any WBL reflections or artifacts.
• Write an “About Me” section that connects their learning to future goals.
• Present the portfolio at a mock interview or showcase event.

8. Resume and LinkedIn Labs (Career Skill Building)

What it is: Short interactive labs focused on helping students translate general skills into job-ready materials.

Faculty Implementation Tips:

• Ask Career Services to provide a resume and LinkedIn workshop in class.
• Bring a past paper, presentation, or group project to rewrite as a skill-based resume entry.
• Create a basic LinkedIn profile in a guided session.
• Get a LinkedIn photo at the college’s photo booth or event.
• Save materials to include in their portfolio or use for job/internship applications.

Awarding Course Credit for Work-Based Learning Activities:

Faculty are encouraged to integrate Work-Based Learning (WBL) activities into existing assignments or offer them as extra credit opportunities. These experiences align with core learning outcomes such as communication, critical thinking, and civic engagement. Activities can be graded through reflections, presentations, or portfolios and adapted to fit your course structure. For support designing credit-bearing WBL components, contact the Career Connected Learning team at careerconnected@clark.edu.