From the Back Cover
Workplace Companion: A Student Work-Based Learning Notebook is a key component for all work-based learning programs. This unique personal student workbook is user-friendly, easy to follow, and pertinent to daily student work experiences. It allows instructors to share important concepts students must grasp before entering the workplace and review the essential skills employers want from young people. This notebook provides: Readiness skills: Students who complete this notebook will have met state and national career-related learning standards and demonstrated specific work readiness skills. Program flexibility: The notebook can be used with a variety of work-based learning programs. Portability: It is designed to be taken to job sites and into the community. Journal pages: This feature ties classroom instruction to real-world experiences and serves as a data source for student portfolios. Progressive and flexible in its approach, this book is designed to be used systematically throughout a 10-week session in a wide variety of programs. www.prenhall.com/success Features include: Majors Exploration Career Advice Web Links Tips from Successful Students Student Bulletin Boards Faculty Resources

About the Author
Carl Sargent, a native of Seattle, has been in education for over 20 years, teaching and counseling students at various stages of their educational and career development. He believes current educational goals and restructuring can be achieved through partnerships between schools and the community. Work-based learning activities are a significant part of this process at all educational levels. In the last ten years, Sargent has been involved in Oregon's school-to-work efforts as a Transition Services Coordinator, providing work-based learning opportunities to special population students. He is a member of several local community and educational committees. Sargent has written four books related to including all students in workplace learning programs and connecting activities between business and education. He has been a presenter on special populations and school-to-work issues at local, state, and national conferences.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
To the Teacher/Coordinator Welcome to work-based learning. This exciting, inspiring part of education takes students into the community to experience new thoughts and feelings about the world around them. The activities found in this workbook will build on and enrich concepts and skills students have learned in the classroom. The workbook will also facilitate guided learning and portfolio development during service-learning opportunities. As part of this process, students will have the opportunity to build positive work habits and attitudes that will make them outstanding employees. A STUDENT NOTEBOOK SERVES AS A MULTIPURPOSE TOOL: It is an excellent resource and means of data collection for student portfolios. It gives students a way to express concerns, thoughts, and feelings about their work. It addresses individual career goals. It ties classroom instruction and learning to real-world experiences. KEY COMPONENTS TO REMEMBER: Whenever possible, discuss the purpose of work-based learning and review the notebook contents with each student. Help students to be successful by clarifying expectations and requirements. To ensure success, students should demonstrate appropriate readiness skills before they enter the workplace. To develop readiness skills, students require instruction or experience in work habits, attitudes, and behavior. Readiness skills include but are not limited to the following: PERSONAL READINESS SKILLS Communication, both written and oral Social manners Business manners Self-esteem Knowledge of workplace attire and grooming Knowledge of workplace ethics Appreciation for safety, confidentiality, and the potential for harassment WORK READINESS SKILLS Resume preparation Letter of application preparation Interviewing Thank-you letter preparation Understanding American workplace culture Skills employers want—SCANS skills and competencies Students can verify or document their readiness skills through class instruction, positive work evaluations, or personal recommendations. Set criteria that you think are reasonable and reachable for students. Be sure to include a review or instruction in the SCANS skills and competencies. Students may need to practice writing and identifying these skills through simulated examples. The Student Information and Review section is for students to use as a reminder of previously learned skills, requirements, and expectations. It will be particularly useful when students match SCANS skills to their job tasks. Give each student an interest inventory to help narrow the options for placement. Students also may want to explore options and search for jobs by computer. USING THE PROGRAM The program can be used as an independent study or as part of a class course curriculum. Meet with students individually or as a group to discuss their goals, and how participation fits into their career objective or degree/diploma program. Groups and individuals may greatly vary in their readiness level; therefore, readiness instruction may be required. You may also want to stagger job placements to fit time constraints and available resources. At the conclusion of the program, arrange for the students to give a formal class presentation about their experience. This exercise will help students internalize their total experience by summarizing and organizing their activities, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and sharing with others. Consult with your state's Department of Education and ask for its work-based learning manual. This manual will contain all the necessary forms and procedures for establishing community sites, including training agreements, examples of learning objectives, and more. The department will also have information on work-based learning and readiness curricula. To Students This notebook is for you. The goal of this work-based learning program is to help you explore and participate in a career activity for which you show interest and aptitude. Your community experience can be a positive and enriching part of your education. To participate in this type of program, you must bring to it appropriate workplace habits, attitudes, and behavior. Employers are eager to teach you new skills and aspects of their industry But for a business to accomplish this, you must be cooperative, display a mature attitude, and show social competence. Your teacher or work coordinator will assist you in meeting these objectives. BE PREPARED TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS REGARDING READINESS: Are you a reliable and punctual person? Can you follow multiple directions and complete tasks promptly? Are you willing to conform to the dress code of the business in which you are placed? Are you well groomed and polite, and do you display a positive attitude? Are you a good listener and able to communicate your ideas in a clear and concise manner? Do you get along well with adults? Are you eager to learn and receptive to constructive criticism? Do you have a professional resume? If your answers to these questions are yes, you may have the necessary readiness skills to get started. Once you have demonstrated that you are competent in readiness skills, your school contact and business representative can help you develop a work-based learning plan. You are expected to make an honest attempt at reaching your goals during the course of the experience. Even though plans and work designs may change, you are expected to adapt to these changes and participate in appropriate responses. As part of the plan, you will identify specific learning objectives, with the help of your business partner and your program coordinator. These objectives are taken directly from the list of necessary skills developed by employers and they will help you focus on the important components of high-quality work. To make the most of your experience, follow the provisions in the student handbook and complete a work-based learning contract. Enter data regularly and keep up to date on your personal journal. During the experience, you will also choose a project or problem that directly relates to the experience. At the conclusion of the work-based experience, you might be asked to share the results of your activity with the class or teacher by giving a formal presentation. Enjoy, work hard, and begin the program with confidence. You are about to start a memorable experience that will enhance your future. Acknowledgements I would like to thank numerous people for their assistance in putting this notebook together. First, a special thanks to the students who participate in our high school transition program and career classes. Their recommendations and suggestions were extremely relevant and valuable. I also appreciate the reviewer input from several school-to-career coordinators and special educators in our region. A personal thanks to my business partners and family, who have always been supportive of innovative projects that help students see the connection between work and school.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Workplace Companion: A Student Work-Based Learning Notebook is a key component for all work-based learning programs. This unique personal student workbook is user-friendly, easy to follow, and pertinent to daily student work experiences. It allows instructors to share important concepts students must grasp before entering the workplace and review the essential skills employers want from young people. This notebook provides: Readiness skills: Students who complete this notebook will have met state and national career-related learning standards and demonstrated specific work readiness skills. Program flexibility: The notebook can be used with a variety of work-based learning programs. Portability: It is designed to be taken to job sites and into the community. Journal pages: This feature ties classroom instruction to real-world experiences and serves as a data source for student portfolios.

Progressive and flexible in its approach, this book is designed to be used systematically throughout a 10-week session in a wide variety of programs. Features include: Majors Exploration Career Advice Web Links Tips from Successful Students Student Bulletin Boards Faculty Resources

ACCREDITATION

Carl Sargent, a native of Seattle, has been in education for over 20 years, teaching and counseling students at various stages of their educational and career development. He believes current educational goals and restructuring can be achieved through partnerships between schools and the community. Work-based learning activities are a significant part of this process at all educational levels.

In the last ten years, Sargent has been involved in Oregon's school-to-work efforts as a Transition Services Coordinator, providing work-based learning opportunities to special population students. He is a member of several local community and educational committees.