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 FY2001 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 FileMaker 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 GainFoundation Skills

0 1 2 3 4 5

Attendance and Punctuality

Workplace Appearance

Accepting Direction and Constructive Criticism

Motivation and Taking Initiative

Understanding Workplace Culture, Policy andSafety

Speaking

Listening

Interacting with Co-Workers 1st Review

2nd Review

May 2007 Skill Gain Study. From a sample of 433 WBL Plans

May 2007 Skill Gain Study. From a sample of 433 WBL Plans

Job and Internship Skill GainCareer and Workplace Specific Skills

0 1 2 3 4 5

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)

Math and Numeric Analysis (N=41) 1st Review

2nd Review

May 2007 Skill Gain Study. From a sample of 433 WBL Plans

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)Math and Numeric Analysis (N=41) May 2007

Skill Gain Study. From a sample of 433 WBL Plans

May 2007 Skill Gain Study. From a sample of 433 WBL Plans

What other “Career and Workplace Specific” skills are identified?Accounting skills

Administrative duties

Allocating Materials

Assessment of skills

Assist therapist

Attention to Detail

Basic Administrating

Basic Maintenance

Basic Office Skills

Blueprint Reading

Business-Related Skills

Care of the kennel/hospital

Classroom Management

Clerical duties

Clerical tasks

Clerical tasks

Client Interaction

Clinical observation

Collecting and Organizing Information

Communication

Community Policing

Communication, Information, and acting in a professional manner.

Computer Skills

Computer Technology

Courtroom-Specific Skills

Customer Service

Data Entry

Data Management and Backup

Decision Making

Demonstrating Authority

Design Skills

Detective Bureau - Time Management - Collecting & Organizing Information

What other “Career and Workplace Specific” skills are identified?Education-Specific Skills

Emergency calls

Equipment Operation

Equipment Repair

Event set up

Flexibility

Graphic design projects

Group presentations

Interacting with customers and clients

Interacting with others

Interacting with Patients

Interacting with Students

Interacting with Teachers, Students & Mentors

Interaction within the preschool and classroom settings

Journalism-Specific Skills

Keeping attendance records

Legal-Specific Skills

Maintenance

Mathematical analysis

Mathematics

Mathematics and Numeric Analysis

Motivation and Taking Initiative

MS Office Suite

Nursing Career exploration

Nursing-Specific Skills

Occupational-Specific Skills

What other “Career and Workplace Specific” skills are identified?Office management

Office Skills

Operating a Dirt Compacter

Operating Laser and Transit

Patrol, Community Policing

Physical Therapy skills

Preparing materials

Prioritizing

Probation Office-Specific Skills

Problem Solving

Professional behavior

Project Management

PT-Specific Skills

Reading

Research and Analysis

Safety and Precautions

Teaching and Instructing

Teamwork

Therapeutic interaction with patients and families.

Time Management

Troubleshooting

Understanding All Aspects

Understanding all aspects of a surgical ICU unit

Understanding All Aspects of the Industry

Understanding Materials

Understanding Systems

Understanding Technology

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 WestrichMA Department of Education350 Main StreetMalden, MA 02148

Tel: 781-338-3902Fax: 781-338-3089kwestrich@doe.mass.edu

http://www.doe.mass.edu/connect

Or

http://skillslibrary.com/wbl.htm