WORK-BASED LEARNING DEFINITIONS

 

  1. Student Visitor - The participant visits the worksite to observe and learn about careers, work activities, or other aspects of an industry.  Examples include: Field Trips, Job Shadowing, Day-on-the-Job, and Work Observation.  No work is performed.
     
  2. Volunteer - The participant voluntarily serves unpaid for non-profit public service or humanitarian objectives.  Examples include: Service Learning, Community Service, Service Clubs (4-H, Boy/Girl Scouts) and Volunteer Programs (Non-Profit Hospitals and Nursing Homes, Charitable Organizations, Governmental Agencies).  As volunteers students may perform work.  Some situations may require work permits which are covered under Youth Employment Standards, Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services, Bureau of Safety Regulation, Wage Hour Division.
     
  3. Unpaid Trainee - The participant is trained without compensation at a business/industry worksite.  The company permits the student to work under direct supervision to gain exposure to a particular occupation.  Emphasis is on documented education and training.  A training agreement and training plan are required.  Six criteria of a trainee must continually be met (See USDOL Fair Labor Standards Act for further information).  Examples include: Contracted Instruction (1) Less-than-Class Size and (2) Individualized Vocational Training/Special Education, Unpaid Work Experience, Exploratory Experience, Unpaid Trainee.
     
  4. Student/Learner - The participant is enrolled in a course of study and training program under a recognized state or local educational authority or private school.  A training agreement and training plan are required.  Examples include: Cooperative Education, Work Study (Special Education), and Paid Work Experience.
     
  5. Apprentice - The participant is employed in an occupation recognized as an apprenticeable trade and is registered by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in accordance with the standards established by the Bureau.  In Michigan, all Apprentices must be registered with the BAT.  A formal agreement and training plan are required.  All interested/qualified students are able to choose from a variety of apprenticeable occupations.  Apprenticeship results in articulation to post-secondary programs/training, BAT registration and credentialing.
     
  6. In-School Placement - The participant is placed in a sschool setting supervised by a teacher/coordinator which allows exploration and learning about this occupationally related placement.  The purpose of placement is education.  Curriculum and goals are established and evaluations are performed.  Students must meet six criteria of a trainee at all times (See USDOL Fair Labor Standards Act).  Examples of placement learning sites include school offices, classrooms and labs.

Taken from Michigan Center for Career and Technical Education, 1999

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