Work-Based Learning with ECCA

Check out the GREAT event we hosted on January 11, a Career Exploration & Internship Event. Students from all four ECCA programs were in attendance to spend time with local industry partners learning about internship possibilities, future career opportunities and the diverse work each business offers.

Local companies in attendance included, AAA Northway, Aflac, AIM Services Inc., Arrow Financial, Barton Mines Company, LLC., Brookfield Renewable, Curtis Lumber Co., GE Aerospace (Rutland, VT), Glens Falls Hospital, GlobalFoundries, Mechanical Contractors Association of the Capital District, Praxis Technology, PVA, Saratoga Honda, Saratoga Federal , The Fort Miller Group, Inc., TCT Federal Credit Union, The Sagamore, Warren County Workforce Development, Washington County.

 

 

Connecting Students, Employers, and the Community
Educators and employers have long recognized that an effective way to prepare for employment in a specific area is to administer on-the-job training in that occupation. In many of our programs, classroom laboratories closely imitate actual job conditions and situations. Internships provide another way to instill job competence by supplementing the classroom experience.

 

For many students, these experiences help develop personal initiative, confidence, teamwork, positive attitudes, and professional behavior. It's these "work readiness skills" that often make the difference between job candidates of similar or equal training or experience. WSWHE BOCES offers a variety of internship opportunities in conjunction with area businesses/industries. Programs are available for students enrolled in one of our many CTE programs as well as for those students in component school districts looking to explore different career options.

 

Internship Programs enable students to extend the classroom into a workplace setting wherein they can learn business and industry standards and practices, work readiness skills, and the application of academics within their chosen field. Internships are aligned with ECCA program goals currently offered through WSWHE BOCES and are developed in collaboration with the programs teachers, local business partners, and the Work-Based Learning Coordinator.

Typically, students work during school time. They are evaluated by their mentors and graded by their teacher. The length of the internship is agreed upon in advance by the student, teacher and employer and range in length from 10-60 hours.

Group Job Shadowing (Site Visits)
Group job shadows allow our business partners an opportunity to show off their facility. This also helps to introduce students to different working environments they will work at during their careers. During the agreed upon time, students spend time on job sites with a tour guide observing what your business and employees perform on a daily basis. Periodically, the mentor/employer and Work-Based Learning Coordinator will assess the students readiness for work.

Job shadowing is a career exploration activity where a student is paired with a business partner and follows that person during much of a regular workday.  Students will:

Take the Next Step!
To learn more about specific program requirements, employer responsibilities contact us today!