Looking back in my high school years, although we did have portfolio-based senior projects, we never were really encouraged to gain this outside work perspective you talk about. As a result, the outside business world was still very foreign to me, even throughout my college.

I actually did do something very similar to what you describe in your post when I was in my later years in college but it made me scratch my head and think..Do we really want our future generation having to wait that long to forge a connection the outside business community?

Perhaps a better question is: Why aren't you offering internship-like programs in your school?

Hi! Our school is one of the pioneers of the internship model in New York City. I think that our students value this experience so much and I have really seen personally how it can change them academically and emotionally. I think your school is definitely on the right track but maybe you could incorporate teachers or advisors a little more and have them be more involved! At our school we have staff that only focus on the internship department and go in the field regularly to open new ones and to visit students on-site. I must say that visiting students in the field is highly rewarding and amazing!! This is where you really see where their strengths and weaknesses lie, how they interact with the business, co-workers, etc. and it also helps in creating ideas for an amazing final project, which we also do.

I am planning on moving back to San Francisco this summer. I would love to work with your school and be part of something wonderful in my hometown!!

Martine Kelsch

When I was young, I remember my aunt being in high school. Her high school provided vocational opportunities for students to explore and to gain work experience in field such as automotives and hair dressing. Although the program remained on campus, the students were exposed to real-world experiences. The student mechanics fixed cars and the hair dressers cut hair at discounted prices. I liked these programs because it allowed the students to explore the field they are interested in, work with a mentor, and learn what is necessary to achieve their goals.

Now, I have two boys in high school whose work experience entails working with their father in the family business. Have they learned from these experiences? Yes, they have learned a great deal, including it is a lot harder to make a living using your hands.
Although my boy's high school provides classes based upon what they think their Major in college would be, but what does that teach a Freshman and Sophomore? Do they really know what they want to do at that age without the real-world experience? I know too many people who went to college in hopes of finding the right job, but in fact, realized they did not like the field they chose once exposed to the real world. I don't want this to happen to my boys.

I would love for the Workplace Learning Experience to be put into place at their school. Students can gain on the job experiences while deciding if it would be the right job for their future. What a great way to incorporate the 21st Century Skills and enhance student achievement!

As an elementary technology teacher, I incorporate a program called School-to-Work to connect the students to the work force. Each grade level works on career and technology lessons to provide real-world experiences.
The kindergartners learn about careers through a letter of the week. They discuss jobs people do and then practice technology skills that support that occupation and their letter of the week.

1st Grade-in charge of the very busy and popular Cypress Ridge Mail. They sort and deliver letters from teachers, parents, and students. In addition, they use technology to support classroom lessons and are learning to do word processing, editing, and to design projects on the computer.

2nd Grade –runs the ink cartridge and phone recycling company. The proceeds from this project pay for the items in the Company Store, which is also run by second grade. Stamps, earned by all grades in technology class for doing their job, can be spent in the store. Students in all grades earn extra stamps by bringing empty ink cartridges for recycling.

3rd Grade – run a Candy Store for three days each quarter. The students select, order, and sell candy for their business. Each year, the profit is reinvested to purchase inventory for the next sale. At the end of last year, the third graders voted to purchase a digital camera, portable photo printer and parts for the button maker, which they will use in their fourth grade business in 2010 - 2011. In addition to learning about marketing and setting prices to earn a profit, they have completed several projects that support the concepts that they are leaning each week.

4th Grade –are responsible for the graphic design company. The students designed, printed, and manufactured buttons for a variety of purposes. In March, they designed, made and sold buttons at a local festival.

5th graders-design, write, and produce a daily morning news show and special segments.

Although the experiences are only at the elementary level, I feel it is a good start to connecting to the job market and the community. What a nice experience it would be for the middle schools and high schools to jump on board providing the Workplace Learning Experience program for their students.

I feel that offering these types of programs at the high school level will definitely benefit young individuals in finding what they would and wouldn't like to do in life. My biggest fear though is that the cuts in education will severely hamper the opportunities for students to choose the right major in college based on life experience. I'm actually doing an Internet Marketing Internship in this turn of the worse economy to get real world experience in SEO. So far the learning has been invaluable.

I have spent some years (7)teaching adults the English language and have found that one of the most vital skills they gain from my class is practical life skills. For example, students had to write a letter to their landlords. Life Skills

The connection between school and life skills has to be made as early as possible.

Hi! Our school is one of the pioneers of the internship model in New York City. I think that our students value this experience so much and I have really seen personally how it can change them academically and emotionally. I think your school is definitely on the right track but maybe you could incorporate teachers or advisors a little more and have them be more involved! At our school we have staff that only focus on the internship department and go in the field regularly to open new ones and to visit students on-site. I must say that visiting students in the field is highly rewarding and amazing!! This is where you really see where their strengths and weaknesses lie, how they interact with the business, co-workers, etc. Genel Forum - Kopgel.net and it also helps in creating ideas for an amazing final project, which we also do.

I am planning on moving back to San Francisco this summer. Genel Forum - Kopgel.net I would love to work with your school and be part of something wonderful in my hometown!! Genel Forum - Kopgel.net

Thanks a lot admin. Genel Bilgiler

I hope, too, that you had seen how other countries set up their educational systems, and the "approach" that is used. There are no 1000 benchmarks/standards Blog that their children need to know (which in Florida I was told would take our students 22 years to master!)...and less is BETTER!