How Software Helps Scale Work-Based Learning Programs

As part of AASA’s Redefining Ready! movement, it has become clear that work-based learning experiences are critical to drive the economic engine for our youth, especially at-risk students.

Data shows that when we provide work-based learning opportunities for our students while they’re with us in the K-12 setting, they are much better equipped to determine what they do want to do with the rest of their lives, and more importantly, what they don’t want to do.

And here’s our reality: If our students can’t see it, they can’t dream it. And if they can’t dream it, they can’t be it. But when students can dream it, they start to understand their passion and purpose. The benefits are clear:

• Work-based learning provides better employment outcomes that will result in higher lifetime wages for those students that in apprenticeships.
• There is critical research that identifies that students who participate in workplace learning experiences have higher postsecondary GPAs.
• Finally, work-based learning also provides a personalized, professional evolution with the real-world application of skills learned in the classroom that students can apply in their work experiences. Work-based learning connects the classroom to the world.

Creating a successful work-based learning program is not easy. It’s incredibly complex with a great deal of moving parts.

• From a student perspective, we need them to take ownership of their progress and to be able to communicate with employers and with their school advisors.
• Business partners need to create attractive opportunities for students.
• Administrators need to make it easy for students and business partners to participate.
• The students need it to be valuable to their goals, and sponsors need the students to provide value-adding opportunities for them and their company.
• Administrators need to be able to manage these experiences across the district at scale.
• Program administrators and superintendents need high-level reporting and great stories that can be shared.

Scaling a work-based learning program doesn’t happen overnight. Success takes time, and intentionality to manage multiple stakeholders and multiple processes. For many schools and it can seem overwhelming. And when we did research, we learned that 93 percent of workplace learning experiences and community service programs were being tracked using paper or through some sort of spreadsheet online. Scaling a jobs program is hard and is not practical using paper.

Automate Your Process & Remove the Barriers of Paper

To scale a work-based learning program you need software to help you do things more effectively, including:

• Collect data more accurately and efficiently
• Track progress accurately and in real time
• Gain access to real time reporting

Why Choosing an Online Platform Can Maximize Your Work-Based Learning Program and Streamline Tedious Administrative Work

• Students can find opportunities that match their interests easily on their mobile device or on the web. And then they can register for these opportunities. 

• Students can manage their own logging and verification online. This reporting and verification process is super intuitive and easy for students and counselors. No more lost papers, friction between students and administrators or frustrating phone calls from students or their parents and guardians. 

• All business partner recruiting and recruiting communication is tracked online. 

• A platform allows the counselor and student to set specific goals. Then provides dashboards and creates customized reports to provide counselors and students with clear visibility on how a student is performing against their goals. 

• With the help of an online platform, school administrators and students can produce customized reports. This will help the counselor (help the student) in finding post-secondary educational options and opportunities and/or help the student start their career when they are ready. 

• Dashboards and reports can help create transparency so everyone can see where you are and what you need to do to achieve those goals. This will help the school district make better and more strategic decisions about how to support programs in real time and inform strategic decisions about how to improve different programs in the future. It also allows business partners and counselors to guide and mentor students more effectively. 

• All stakeholders are held mutually accountable with the ability to access real-time data. This makes it easier to get in front of issues and challenges in real time before they turn into larger issues. 

Digitize Your Program & Drive Powerful Outcomes

A work-based learning platform allows students to connect their education in the classroom to the possibilities for their future. It reduces the time spent onboarding students and business partners.

An online platform makes it easier for your business providers to become partners and provide opportunities, as well as for your students to find the right opportunities.

At the same time, it also dramatically decreases the time spent calculating data to produce customized reports for all your stakeholders including compliance. And most importantly, it allows your staff, business partners, and administration to focus on delivering quality experiences for students.

Vector Solutions’ Powerful Career and Technical Education Solutions

Vector Solutions’ Career & Technical Education (CTE) Suite helps schools, districts, and CTE centers overcome common challenges such as burdensome administrative work, lack of student engagement, and difficulty showing program effectiveness. Additionally, it helps prepare students for their future workplace.

All-In-One Work-Based Learning Platform

The Vector Pathways platform helps schools and career centers create more work-based learning experiences through streamlined workflows, business partner engagement, and digital experience tracking.

• Simplify & Digitize Your WBL Program 

• Enhance & Streamline Business Partnerships 

• Track WBL Program Metrics & Data to Drive Decision Making 

• Increase Student Engagement & Demonstrate Career Readiness 

Career & Technical Education Training for Students

Vector’s CTE Training provides students with essential skills for safe and effective learning in the classroom and workplace, enhancing employability with critical workplace skills and industry-recognized credentials.

• Integrate Comprehensive Offerings into Your Existing Curriculum 

• Provide a Safe & Health CTE Learning Environment 

• Enhance Workplace Readiness 

• Help Students Earn Industry-Recognized Credentials