Massachusetts WorkBased Learning Plan Skill Gain Study About

Massachusetts Work-Based Learning Plan Skill Gain Study

About the Study • Conducted in May 2007 • Analysis of a sample of WBL Plans • Sample of 900 WBL Plans contributed by five regions • Sample included WBL Plans in a variety of stages, including 433 WBL Plans with first and second reviews

About the Study - Background • First systematic look at the use of the new WBL Plan, which was introduced in May 2006 • This study is similar to the FY 2001 Skill Gain Study, which looked at the use of the original WBL Plan

Questions • Do participants gain skills during their work-based learning experiences? • What skills do participants learn? • How can employers and youth service providers maximize the benefits of work-based learning experiences?

Analysis WBL Plans were merged from the Microsoft Word version and/or the File. Maker Pro database screens into a single database.

Analysis The database “Skill Gain Report” screens select plans with a first and second review, and, for each skill, present the average rating at the first review, the average rating at the second review, the average change, and the number of plans included. The analysis can be done for all plans in the database or for any subset of plans.

Job and Internship Skill Gain Foundation Skills May 2007 Skill Gain Study. From a sample of 433 WBL Plans

Job and Internship Skill Gain Career and Workplace Specific Skills May 2007 Skill Gain Study. From a sample of 433 WBL Plans

What “Career and Workplace Specific” skills are selected most? Collecting and Organizing Information (N=174) Time Management (N=126) Equipment Operation (N=120) Computer Technology (N=100) Interacting with Customers or Clients (N=94) Reading (N=80) Project Management (N=63) Writing (N=59) Teaching and Instructing (N=48) May 2007 Math and Numeric Analysis (N=41) Skill Gain Study. From a sample of 433 WBL Plans

What other “Career and Workplace Specific” skills are identified? Accounting skills Clerical tasks Administrative duties Client Interaction Allocating Materials Clinical observation Assessment of skills Collecting and Organizing Information Assist therapist Communication Attention to Detail Community Policing Basic Administrating Communication, Information, and acting in a professional manner. Basic Maintenance Computer Skills Basic Office Skills Computer Technology Blueprint Reading Courtroom-Specific Skills Business-Related Skills Customer Service Care of the kennel/hospital Data Entry Classroom Management Data Management and Backup Clerical duties Decision Making Clerical tasks Demonstrating Authority Design Skills Detective Bureau - Time Management - Collecting & Organizing Information

What other “Career and Workplace Specific” skills are identified? Education-Specific Skills Interaction within the preschool and classroom settings Emergency calls Journalism-Specific Skills Equipment Operation Keeping attendance records Equipment Repair Legal-Specific Skills Event set up Maintenance Flexibility Mathematical analysis Graphic design projects Mathematics Group presentations Mathematics and Numeric Analysis Interacting with customers and clients Motivation and Taking Initiative Interacting with others MS Office Suite Interacting with Patients Nursing Career exploration Interacting with Students Nursing-Specific Skills Interacting with Teachers, Students & Mentors Occupational-Specific Skills

What other “Career and Workplace Specific” skills are identified? Office management Research and Analysis Office Skills Safety and Precautions Operating a Dirt Compacter Teaching and Instructing Operating Laser and Transit Teamwork Patrol, Community Policing Therapeutic interaction with patients and families. Physical Therapy skills Time Management Preparing materials Troubleshooting Prioritizing Understanding All Aspects Probation Office-Specific Skills Understanding all aspects of a surgical ICU unit Problem Solving Understanding All Aspects of the Industry Professional behavior Understanding Materials Project Management Understanding Systems PT-Specific Skills Understanding Technology Reading Using Technology Volunteer management Working with animals Writing

What Contributes to Skill Gain? Skill Gain was highest for: • Participants whose WBLPs had longer-than-average job descriptions and skills/tasks descriptions; • Participants whose WBLPs had longer-than-average written goals and comments; • Participants whose job titles included the word “intern”; • Participants who were in programs in which employers provided jobs/internships for two or more participants.

Factors Contributing to Skill Gain These findings DON’T suggest that you have to “write a lot” in the Work-Based Learning Plan, or use the word “intern” in the job title. But these findings DO suggest that: • Any time and effort put into using the Work-Based Learning Plan effectively results in higher skill gain. • While all jobs represent valuable learning experiences, jobs/internships that are set up as formal learning experiences result in especially strong skill gains.

Resources The Work-Based Learning Plans provided for this study were used in the development of a set of print and online resources, available at: http: //www. doe. mass. edu/connect or http: //skillslibrary. com/wbl. htm Also -- the School to Career Database provides screens that allow you to produce the same data based on Work. Based Learning Plans developed in your program. Look for the button for “Skill Gain Reports” on the database’s Reports Menu and on the WBLP screen.

For More Information Keith Westrich MA Department of Education 350 Main Street Malden, MA 02148 Tel: 781 -338 -3902 Fax: 781 -338 -3089 kwestrich@doe. mass. edu http: //www. doe. mass. edu/connect Or http: //skillslibrary. com/wbl. htm