When students leave academia and head out into the real world, what better way to prepare for a career than with hands-on, work-based learning is there?
Through WSWHE BOCES's work-based learning internship program, students
are doing just that. BOCES offers a variety of internship opportunities
for students in conjunction with local businesses.
Together, instructors and business owners work with students to give them hands-on experience in the field they are studying.
"This allows students to go out and practice job skills in the real world. They get experience specific to their concentration. This way they can judge if it is the right field for them," said Placement Coordinator Bruce Hoffman. "Being in a classroom is totally different than real life."
The goals of the work-based internships are:
· to provide an opportunity to test and apply student's technical, soft and academic skills in a real-world placement
· to allow the student to learn more about specific career paths that exist within their chosen field: organizational, job titles, additional skills needed to perform duties, etc., and to determine if the career choice is right for them.
Not only is this program advantageous for students, but businesses also benefit from the program. Employers have a chance to "test" the students to see if they would make good full-time employees at the business before actually hiring them.
Saratoga Central Catholic employs interns in the computer and technology department, teaching students how to diagnose various technological problems, set up computer networks and how to perform other technology-related tasks.
"This program has been very successful in teaching students how to deal with real-life situations," said Dennis Ostrowski, assistant principal and mentor. "Having the intern also makes my life a bit easier by relieving some of my work burden.
Aside from giving interns valuable life experiences, the work-based learning program provides outreach for BOCES and helps build a relationship with local businesses and industries.
"These are the places that will be hiring our students in the future," said Placement Coordinator John Major. "As businesses are beginning to require more technical skills from employees, our students will already have the advantage of knowing exactly what to expect."
By learning hands-on in a job field, students can clearly see how some skills are transferrable. Automotive students can easily transfer their knowledge to other machines or equipment.
Not only do the businesses take in a student to train them, many of them donate to BOCES scholarship fund which adds up to about $30,000 in grants and scholarships for graduating seniors.
"It's amazing to me how dedicated and supportive the local businesses are with the students," Hoffman said. "The students are also very dedicated to the work they do. The students who are here choose to be here."
Together, instructors and mentors supplement students' learning by providing classroom and real life learning.
"School and business partnerships make sense to better our community," Major said.
More than 100 businesses or business owners are mentors to BOCES students and provide work-based education. To become a mentor or to learn more about the program, call Bruce Hoffman at (518) 581-3631.
Together, instructors and business owners work with students to give them hands-on experience in the field they are studying.
"This allows students to go out and practice job skills in the real world. They get experience specific to their concentration. This way they can judge if it is the right field for them," said Placement Coordinator Bruce Hoffman. "Being in a classroom is totally different than real life."
The goals of the work-based internships are:
· to provide an opportunity to test and apply student's technical, soft and academic skills in a real-world placement
· to allow the student to learn more about specific career paths that exist within their chosen field: organizational, job titles, additional skills needed to perform duties, etc., and to determine if the career choice is right for them.
Not only is this program advantageous for students, but businesses also benefit from the program. Employers have a chance to "test" the students to see if they would make good full-time employees at the business before actually hiring them.
Saratoga Central Catholic employs interns in the computer and technology department, teaching students how to diagnose various technological problems, set up computer networks and how to perform other technology-related tasks.
"This program has been very successful in teaching students how to deal with real-life situations," said Dennis Ostrowski, assistant principal and mentor. "Having the intern also makes my life a bit easier by relieving some of my work burden.
Aside from giving interns valuable life experiences, the work-based learning program provides outreach for BOCES and helps build a relationship with local businesses and industries.
"These are the places that will be hiring our students in the future," said Placement Coordinator John Major. "As businesses are beginning to require more technical skills from employees, our students will already have the advantage of knowing exactly what to expect."
By learning hands-on in a job field, students can clearly see how some skills are transferrable. Automotive students can easily transfer their knowledge to other machines or equipment.
Not only do the businesses take in a student to train them, many of them donate to BOCES scholarship fund which adds up to about $30,000 in grants and scholarships for graduating seniors.
"It's amazing to me how dedicated and supportive the local businesses are with the students," Hoffman said. "The students are also very dedicated to the work they do. The students who are here choose to be here."
Together, instructors and mentors supplement students' learning by providing classroom and real life learning.
"School and business partnerships make sense to better our community," Major said.
More than 100 businesses or business owners are mentors to BOCES students and provide work-based education. To become a mentor or to learn more about the program, call Bruce Hoffman at (518) 581-3631.
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