WBL = Work-Based Learning

  • career development & preparationA co-op placement puts a student in a job that will further develop their occupational skills and ensure they become employable in that field. The experience can also enhance their workplace knowledge and awareness by providing first-hand practice in a potential future workplace. In addition, a co-op job enables the student to connect classroom learning with real-world work experiences and offers networking and mentoring opportunities.

  • Students will:

    • Demonstrate and practice safe work habits at all times.
    • Gain career awareness and the opportunity to test career choices.
    • Receive work experience related to their career interests.
    • Integrate classroom studies with work experience.
    • Receive exposure to facilities and equipment unavailable in a classroom setting.
    • Increase their employability; and
    • Earn money to help finance their postsecondary education.

  • Format

    A co-op job is short term or long term as defined by the work-based learning agreement.

    It combines classroom instruction and field experiences.

    Examples may include but are not limited to:

    • Semester course covering workplace issues in a student's field of interest, in conjunction with work-based learning experience
    • Seminar one day per week throughout the course of the work-based learning experience

    Resources

    Work-based Learning Path and Agreement

    Co-Op CTE Pathway & Co-Op Non-CTE Pathway