Making the most of work-related learning
Introduction
The are several areas of the curriculum where your learners have the opportunity to design their own learning plans, either by co-creating plans with your support or working independently or with peers. Some examples of opportunities that can provide rich learning experiences, but which may be overlooked in planning teaching and learning are:
- independent or group project work
- Key Skills opportunities outside the classroom or workshop
- part-time work or voluntary and community work
- personal interests or hobbies
- work experience.
This guidance uses work-related learning as an example where, with thoughtful planning, several learning objectives can be met and the value of the experience enriched. At the same time learners are developing their understanding of and expertise in planning, an important skill in itself.
The activity
This activity will help learners to understand how planning can help them to get the most out of work experience and meet multiple learning objectives. The activity can also be used as a resource for continuing professional development, providing stimulus for discussions about involving learners in planning their work experience.
Work experience is an important and motivating element of a learning programme and your organisation will already have formal structures and procedures in place to check that workplaces are safe and supportive for your learners. However, opportunities for learning about work and developing employability skills can often be missed. You can ensure that your learners are able to exploit the workplace as a rich learning environment if you jointly plan learning experiences and learning outcomes with them, and their work placement supervisor or employer and others who may be involved in supporting the work experience.
This activity uses a project planning approach to help learners take a leading role in planning, carrying out and reviewing learning through work experience. Through this activity learners will be able to reflect on the value of effective planning as well as the specific learning they have gained in the workplace.