Learn and Earn Models: Integrating Schooling and Workplace Learning to Promote Career Readiness

Alternative Accountability Policy Forum

San Diego, CA

November 16, 2015

Michelle Van NoyRutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Marcy DrummondACT Foundation

What is Learning?

Caricature: learning in a classroom in a school leading to a credential

Source: http://cstaab.com/wp-content/uploads/flipped-classroom_sage_on_stage_guide_on_side.jpg

Need to Re-conceptualize Learning

Idea that learning happens all the time everywhere

Increasing importance of lifelong learning

A wide range of learning occurs outside of formal learning

Everyday Workplace Learning

Organized Experiential Learning

Formal Learning

Moving Beyond Formal Learning

• Location: school vs. school, work, home,

community

• Process: instructor-led vs. learner-led

• Content: organized vs. contextual curriculum

• Purpose: intentional vs. incidental

Formal Informal

Continuum of Learning

 Formal learning

Organized informal learning

Everyday informal learning

     Self-directed

learningIncidental learning

Tacit learning/ socialization

Location SchoolSchool, work, or community

Work, community,

home

Work, community,

home

Work, community,

home

Process Instructor-led Instructor-led Learner-led Contextual Contextual

 

Organized curriculum

Organized curriculum

Learner organized

Spontaneous based on need

Social norms and practices

 Content

  

PurposeIntentionally

soughtIntentionally

soughtIntentionally

sought

Not intentionally sought, but aware after

Not intentionally sought, not aware after

Formal Learning Organized Informal Learning

How Does Learning Occur

Experiential and relational

learning

Experiential and relational

learning

Experiential and relational

learning

Classroom-based learning

Classroom-based

learning

Everyday Informal Learning

Experiential Learning: Learning by Doing

Learners must be proficient in bridging the gap between theory and practice

Effective work-based learning will incorporate multiple modes of learning (such as experiences, social interactions, reflection, etc.)

Kolb’s Cycle of Experiential Learning

(Kolb, 1984)

Relational Learning: Learning from Others

Types of Relational Learning:

Mentoring, Peer-to-Peer Learning, Coaching, Communities of Practice

Benefits: workers gain the knowledge they think is relevant, while organizations benefit from the worker’s greater connection to the profession and often employer Source:

http://caeacommcon.ning.com/group/intentional-mentoring-advising-and-informal-learni

The Role of Technology: Mediating Learning E-Learning online learning, computer-based learning

MOOCs

Gaming and Simulations

Mobile Learning

Benefits Challenges

• Increased access to content • Learning is not bounded by

time or place (Flexibility) • Anonymity frees learner to

express lack of knowledge or skills

• Allows instruction to be tailored to meet individual goals, needs, interest and prior experience

• Requires access to technology• Requires knowledge of how to

use the learning platform• Evidence that adults with

greater academic skills are more likely to benefit

• Attrition

Customized

training, workplace training

Traditional degree

programs

Non-credit

education,

continuing

education

Community

education

Coop, apprenticesh

ip, internships

Service learnin

g

Extra-curricul

ar activitie

s

Community of

practice, learning communi

ty

Reading, web

searching

Trial and Error

Socialization

Modeling

others

An Expanded Conception of Learning

Mentoring,

coaching

But, A Fragmented Education System…

Source: Schurman & Soares, 2010

Discussion

In what ways does your organization fit in the current education system?

What barriers to recognizing learning do your students encounter in the current education system?

Future Forces…Working

WHO

?

TOOLS/ METHODS

USED

WHERE DOES IT

OCCUR?

“GIG” ECONOMYFreelancers

53 Million Americans32% of the workforce50% of the workforce by 2020

Traditional WorkplacesOnline WorkplacesGlobal

Social NetworkingFreelancer Co-opsInternetSkill Exchanges

Since the 1980s, the traditional “full-time job with benefits” is becoming less common, replaced by a new gig-to-gig, project-to-project, contract-to-contract working life. Long-term employment with predictable advancement opportunities is giving way to more short-term, skill- or project-based affiliations.

Future Forces…Learning

$2.600

$2,400

$2,200

$2,000

$1,800

$1,600

$1,400

$1,200

$1,000

$800

$600

$400

$200

$0

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015(H1)

GLOBAL PRIVATE INVESTMENTS MADE TO LEARNING TECH COMPANIES

2 BILLION DOLLAR THRESHOLD

1 BILLION DOLLAR THRESHOLD

INVESTMENTSIn Millions

Future Forces…Learners

Born 1995 to 2010

Roughly 2 billion youth

Wired for fast delivery of content , data, and images from computers

Want hands-on options and practical skills with employer internships

Have preference for digital learningDislike lecture-based classrooms

Want their education customizedExpect to work, learn, and study whenever/wherever

Love to explore using own route – design own course of study

LEARNING PREFERENCES

GENERATION Z LEARNERS

Discussion

What do your learners want/need from education…earn and learn programs?

In what ways do earn and learn programs need to adapt because of these future forces?

Work Based Learning (WBL) Learning on the job that is formally organized and supervised through schools

   WBL Opportunities

Option for Academic Credit

Option to be Paid

Career Exploration

Skill Development

Career Preparation    

Career Exploration  

Career Awareness

Apprenticeship X X   X

Clinical X     X

Internship X X X X

Cooperative Education X X X X

School-based Enterprises     X X

Job Shadowing     X  

Career Academies     X  

Worksite Tours     X  

Summary of Work-based Learning (WBL) Opportunities

WBL & Everyday Workplace Learning

The majority of informal learning, includes: Self-directed learning Incidental learning Tacit learning No curriculum

Benefits include: Higher employability Better relationships

between colleagues and managers

Greater human capitalSource: http://www.growthengineering.co.uk/sharing-knowledge-what-does-your-lms-do-to-promote-informal-learning/

Benefits of Work Based Learning

Development of metacognitive skills

Socio-emotional and career development

Economic returns in the workforce

Stronger partnerships between schools and employers

Contribution to the economic well-being of the U.S.

WBL: Cooperative Education (Co-ops)

Broad term including experiential or work-based learning that integrates school learning and work experience

Best Practices: detailing the skills expected to be learned, adhering to training agreements, and implementing a solid coaching system, periodic worksite supervision

Benefits: improved career decision making, better problem-solving skills, increased confidence in their ability to work, higher employment rates and salaries

WBL: Apprenticeships

Formalized paid worker training where a novice employee acquires knowledge through a hierarchical relationship with a master

Best Practices: master’s transparency when teaching, sustained organizational commitment, industry-recognized credentialing

Benefits: higher wages, higher employment rates, increased confidence and independence

WBL: Internships

Term-length placement with an organization to gain experience sometimes accompanied by faculty and company supervisors for academic credit

Best Practices: crafting academic assignments that ask students to reflect on their work experience, such as daily journaling (Clark, 2003)

Benefits: Improvement in communication, writing, problem-solving, and critical thinking, improved ability to place abstract concepts into context, greater self-efficacy and increased ambition

Other WBL Opportunities

Includes school-based enterprises, job shadowing, and career academies

Positively associated with continuing formal schooling

Helps students to develop career goals

A Closer Look at WBL: Career Academies and Linked Learning

Students who had attended career academies were at least as likely to be enrolled in four-year colleges as those students who indicated aspirations to attend college

Findings suggest that academies help low-income students finish not only high school, but also college

Effective preparation for both college and careers

Youth/Young Adult Participation in WBL

26% .28%

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

INTERN

9TH TO 12TH GRADERS WORK15

HR/WK

US WORKFORCE ARE APPRENTICES

7%

Discussion

To what extent do you use strategies to link to WBL?

How can we greatly increase opportunities for youth/young adults to participate in WBL?

The Next Generation of WBL…

Discussion

To what extent do you use strategies to link to work based learning?

In what ways do WBL programs need to the emerging learning economy?