Classroom to Career Playbook
Employer On-Site Engagements
Engagements that take place at the employer’s place of business.
Short-Term Engagement
Engagements that range from a single 30-minute visit to several visits that are spread
across weeks or months (generally less than a semester in length).
Job Shadow
An opportunity for students to go to an employer's work site and learn from experienced employees in
the field of study. Experienced employees will show the students what a typical work-day consists of and
could give the students a small task to work on. Job shadows could range from 30 minutes to a full work
day, but they typically will not be longer than 1 work day.
Career Shadow
Similar to a job shadow, but the focus is on aspects of the career rather than day-to-day work. A career
shadow may be used to help students learn, in general, what the career is. Typically, this will be a
presentation given by the employer either at the school or at the employer's work site.
Desk Shadow
A 1-hour (or less) session in which a student can engage with an employee at the employee's desk. The
employee will explain his/her job duties and provide answers to common questions. The student will
come to the meeting with a list of questions to ask the employee.
Externship
Similar to a job shadow, but with possible hands-on experience, an externship is applicable for
professionals seeking knowledge in an industry or workplace a student has interest in pursuing.
Externships are typically held for short time period lasting anywhere from a week long up to X (eight)
weeks and are often held over a student’s winter, spring or summer break.
Workplace Learning Activities
Educational opportunities in which students engage in authentic and relevant work aligned with a career
pathway. These experiences allow students to participate in a professional work environment and assist
with career skill development and decision making.
Field Study
The objective collection of raw data outside a of a controlled environment such as a laboratory or
library. Field studies involve collecting data outside of an experimental or lab setting. This type of data
collection is most often done in natural settings or environments and can be done in a variety of ways
for various disciplines. A field study involves a range of methods: informal interviews, direct observation,
participation in the the group, collective discussions, analyses of personal documents produced within
the group, self-analysis, results from activities undertaken off- or on-line.
Facility/Building Tour
Purpose: Learn how a business operates by experiencing their building, facility or campus.
Setting: Groups of students and their teacher(s) tour a building/facility during a pre-arranged time with
the employer. In most situations, the tour should include a brief history of the company, a high-level
explanation of the company's operations and a guided tour with pre-arranged stops at areas (or with
people) of interest within the company.
Food: Should be pre-arranged between the school and employer if there are options to eat at the facility
or if students should bring their own lunch. Also consider what accommodations are available if the
students will be eating on site.
Format: Will vary by employer and should be discussed and documented.
Audience: K-12 (Employer should dictate ideal grade levels)
Other considerations:
The employer should consider requirements for the number of chaperones (example: 1 for every 10
children), printed materials to help with the educational experience, promotional merchandise
(examples: stickers, key chains, etc), alternate arrangements if there is an outdoor tour, parking for
school transportation, dress code, security concerns (backpacks, coats, etc), check-in procedures
(meeting place arranged, visitor badges, etc), check-out procedures, and any fees or costs related to the
tour or related activities (example: Caterpillar visitors center). Note: This may also be categorized by
some employers as a Field Trip.
Examples:
https://www.caterpillar.com/en/company/visitors-center/resources/educators-explorehere.html
https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/fbi-headquarters/the-fbi-experience
Long-Term Engagements
Engagements are generally for a semester or school year (may be longer if agreed to by
all parties). May include requirements that must be met to earn the student credits
toward their graduation.
Internship
An official program offered by an employer to potential employees. Interns work either part or full time
for a minimum and maximum period of time. For high school students’ internships are often unpaid, but
still involve exploratory duties and responsibilities that give students entry level experience in many
different job functions or even departments. Paid internships for high school students are typically
offered over the summer break.
Co-op
High School cooperative educational programs are designed to provide supervised workplace
employment opportunities and learning experiences. Co-op programs are based on agreements made
between the employer and the high school faculty for the student to split campus time with employers.
For “job-ready” students, students are matched with employers who offers full-time work hours in a job
related to the students career program for up to months at a time.
Apprenticeship
A training program that combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction that culminates in the
award of an industry credential.
Work-Study
Relating to a college (or private high school) program that enables students to work part-time while
attending school and is based on financial need. In the formal sense, Federal Work-Study provides part-
time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to
help pay education expenses.
Mentoring
A formally arranged pairing of individuals in which one agrees to share their skills, knowledge, expertise,
and professional contacts with you. Mentors can help you navigate professional/career decisions and
considerations that come into play when choosing a line of work, an academic major, or a prospective
school or employer. These relationships are intended to assist making sound school and/or career
decisions.
Work Program
Course that enables students to develop and refine occupational competencies needed to acquire and
succeed in a job, adjust to the employment, and advance in an occupation of their choice. On-the-job
instruction is supervised by the employer. They work closely with the teacher-coordinator in planning
and student learning experiences, which are compatible with student goals. Students are required to
work an average of 15 hours a week.
Innovative Entrepreneurs
This class is year-long experience that engages students in startup business development and
processes, and creates meaningful connections with local business owners and innovators. Students will
visit local businesses, partner with a business mentor, learn from guest speakers, develop their own
business idea and pitch their idea to local business owners and entrepreneurs at the end of the year.
Students must apply and go through an interview as part of the course selection process.
School/Classroom Engagement Activities
Engagements that take place in a school or classroom.
Career Days
Purpose: Provide students with a day to experience connections between their academic pursuits and
potential career paths. Allows students to explore their interests and better understand themselves and
their community.
Setting: Generally done inside the school and includes a career fair, break-out sessions with employers
providing classroom presentations (defined below), and auditorium presentations by key speakers.
Format: Often a full day with a pre-arranged schedule that defines the time and place of each stage of
the event. Could be done in conjunction with neighboring schools.
Audience: K-12; Could be a single grade (High School Seniors) or the range of grades housed within a
school (i.e., Elementary, Middle School, or High School)
Example: https://blogs.stmarksschool.org/smcareerday/
Classroom Presentation
Purpose: Employer speaks in a classroom setting about their professional experiences and expertise on a
topic within a discipline.
Setting: Elementary school would be a grade level classroom (example: 3rd grade class); Middle school
through high school would likely be a subject area classroom (example: biology).
Format: Presentation materials should be coordinated between the teacher and employer and the
employer should come with a presentation that fits within an agreed upon time frame.
Audience: K-12
Lunch & Learn
Purpose: Students gain understanding of the relevance of high school course work, real world
application of skills, paths to employment, and industry outlooks in an informal round table or dinner
table setting.
Setting: May be best for small to medium sized groups and done in a round table setting where signup
is on a first come, first serve basis and limited to a certain number of seats.
Food: It is recommended that students and the employer bring their own lunch but the employer could
also provide lunch if they so desire - This should be clearly stated in all communications.
Format: Casual; The employer should come ready to discuss how their pre-college planning and
decisions led them to their current career and then allow plenty of time for students to ask questions.
The employer should also consider bringing questions to encourage engagement from the students.
Audience: Generally middle school and high school students.
Example: https://www.livoniacsd.org/Page/1864
Other Activities & Definitions
Career Exploration
Career exploration is a self-assessment activity in which an individual is simply learning about various
occupations with your unique career preferences, e.g. the skills, interests and values
satisfied by a career. Ideally, you engage in career exploration during or after identifying your career
preferences through the self-assessment.
Certification
Credentials awarded to students by an independent third party verifying qualifications or competencies
in a career skill area. Certifications are sought or accepted by employers as preferred or required
credentials for recruitment, screening, hiring, retention or advancement purposes of their employees.
Curriculum Building
Used when districts are building their own curriculum using grade level or subject area teams. Allows for
multiple lessons to meet the same common core standard to provide teachers with more flexibility.
Engagements that take place at the employer’s place of business.
Short-Term Engagement
Engagements that range from a single 30-minute visit to several visits that are spread
across weeks or months (generally less than a semester in length).
Job Shadow
An opportunity for students to go to an employer's work site and learn from experienced employees in
the field of study. Experienced employees will show the students what a typical work-day consists of and
could give the students a small task to work on. Job shadows could range from 30 minutes to a full work
day, but they typically will not be longer than 1 work day.
Career Shadow
Similar to a job shadow, but the focus is on aspects of the career rather than day-to-day work. A career
shadow may be used to help students learn, in general, what the career is. Typically, this will be a
presentation given by the employer either at the school or at the employer's work site.
Desk Shadow
A 1-hour (or less) session in which a student can engage with an employee at the employee's desk. The
employee will explain his/her job duties and provide answers to common questions. The student will
come to the meeting with a list of questions to ask the employee.
Externship
Similar to a job shadow, but with possible hands-on experience, an externship is applicable for
professionals seeking knowledge in an industry or workplace a student has interest in pursuing.
Externships are typically held for short time period lasting anywhere from a week long up to X (eight)
weeks and are often held over a student’s winter, spring or summer break.
Workplace Learning Activities
Educational opportunities in which students engage in authentic and relevant work aligned with a career
pathway. These experiences allow students to participate in a professional work environment and assist
with career skill development and decision making.
Field Study
The objective collection of raw data outside a of a controlled environment such as a laboratory or
library. Field studies involve collecting data outside of an experimental or lab setting. This type of data
collection is most often done in natural settings or environments and can be done in a variety of ways
for various disciplines. A field study involves a range of methods: informal interviews, direct observation,
participation in the the group, collective discussions, analyses of personal documents produced within
the group, self-analysis, results from activities undertaken off- or on-line.
Facility/Building Tour
Purpose: Learn how a business operates by experiencing their building, facility or campus.
Setting: Groups of students and their teacher(s) tour a building/facility during a pre-arranged time with
the employer. In most situations, the tour should include a brief history of the company, a high-level
explanation of the company's operations and a guided tour with pre-arranged stops at areas (or with
people) of interest within the company.
Food: Should be pre-arranged between the school and employer if there are options to eat at the facility
or if students should bring their own lunch. Also consider what accommodations are available if the
students will be eating on site.
Format: Will vary by employer and should be discussed and documented.
Audience: K-12 (Employer should dictate ideal grade levels)
Other considerations:
The employer should consider requirements for the number of chaperones (example: 1 for every 10
children), printed materials to help with the educational experience, promotional merchandise
(examples: stickers, key chains, etc), alternate arrangements if there is an outdoor tour, parking for
school transportation, dress code, security concerns (backpacks, coats, etc), check-in procedures
(meeting place arranged, visitor badges, etc), check-out procedures, and any fees or costs related to the
tour or related activities (example: Caterpillar visitors center). Note: This may also be categorized by
some employers as a Field Trip.
Examples:
https://www.caterpillar.com/en/company/visitors-center/resources/educators-explorehere.html
https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/fbi-headquarters/the-fbi-experience
Long-Term Engagements
Engagements are generally for a semester or school year (may be longer if agreed to by
all parties). May include requirements that must be met to earn the student credits
toward their graduation.
Internship
An official program offered by an employer to potential employees. Interns work either part or full time
for a minimum and maximum period of time. For high school students’ internships are often unpaid, but
still involve exploratory duties and responsibilities that give students entry level experience in many
different job functions or even departments. Paid internships for high school students are typically
offered over the summer break.
Co-op
High School cooperative educational programs are designed to provide supervised workplace
employment opportunities and learning experiences. Co-op programs are based on agreements made
between the employer and the high school faculty for the student to split campus time with employers.
For “job-ready” students, students are matched with employers who offers full-time work hours in a job
related to the students career program for up to months at a time.
Apprenticeship
A training program that combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction that culminates in the
award of an industry credential.
Work-Study
Relating to a college (or private high school) program that enables students to work part-time while
attending school and is based on financial need. In the formal sense, Federal Work-Study provides part-
time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to
help pay education expenses.
Mentoring
A formally arranged pairing of individuals in which one agrees to share their skills, knowledge, expertise,
and professional contacts with you. Mentors can help you navigate professional/career decisions and
considerations that come into play when choosing a line of work, an academic major, or a prospective
school or employer. These relationships are intended to assist making sound school and/or career
decisions.
Work Program
Course that enables students to develop and refine occupational competencies needed to acquire and
succeed in a job, adjust to the employment, and advance in an occupation of their choice. On-the-job
instruction is supervised by the employer. They work closely with the teacher-coordinator in planning
and student learning experiences, which are compatible with student goals. Students are required to
work an average of 15 hours a week.
Innovative Entrepreneurs
This class is year-long experience that engages students in startup business development and
processes, and creates meaningful connections with local business owners and innovators. Students will
visit local businesses, partner with a business mentor, learn from guest speakers, develop their own
business idea and pitch their idea to local business owners and entrepreneurs at the end of the year.
Students must apply and go through an interview as part of the course selection process.
School/Classroom Engagement Activities
Engagements that take place in a school or classroom.
Career Days
Purpose: Provide students with a day to experience connections between their academic pursuits and
potential career paths. Allows students to explore their interests and better understand themselves and
their community.
Setting: Generally done inside the school and includes a career fair, break-out sessions with employers
providing classroom presentations (defined below), and auditorium presentations by key speakers.
Format: Often a full day with a pre-arranged schedule that defines the time and place of each stage of
the event. Could be done in conjunction with neighboring schools.
Audience: K-12; Could be a single grade (High School Seniors) or the range of grades housed within a
school (i.e., Elementary, Middle School, or High School)
Example: https://blogs.stmarksschool.org/smcareerday/
Classroom Presentation
Purpose: Employer speaks in a classroom setting about their professional experiences and expertise on a
topic within a discipline.
Setting: Elementary school would be a grade level classroom (example: 3rd grade class); Middle school
through high school would likely be a subject area classroom (example: biology).
Format: Presentation materials should be coordinated between the teacher and employer and the
employer should come with a presentation that fits within an agreed upon time frame.
Audience: K-12
Lunch & Learn
Purpose: Students gain understanding of the relevance of high school course work, real world
application of skills, paths to employment, and industry outlooks in an informal round table or dinner
table setting.
Setting: May be best for small to medium sized groups and done in a round table setting where signup
is on a first come, first serve basis and limited to a certain number of seats.
Food: It is recommended that students and the employer bring their own lunch but the employer could
also provide lunch if they so desire - This should be clearly stated in all communications.
Format: Casual; The employer should come ready to discuss how their pre-college planning and
decisions led them to their current career and then allow plenty of time for students to ask questions.
The employer should also consider bringing questions to encourage engagement from the students.
Audience: Generally middle school and high school students.
Example: https://www.livoniacsd.org/Page/1864
Other Activities & Definitions
Career Exploration
Career exploration is a self-assessment activity in which an individual is simply learning about various
occupations with your unique career preferences, e.g. the skills, interests and values
satisfied by a career. Ideally, you engage in career exploration during or after identifying your career
preferences through the self-assessment.
Certification
Credentials awarded to students by an independent third party verifying qualifications or competencies
in a career skill area. Certifications are sought or accepted by employers as preferred or required
credentials for recruitment, screening, hiring, retention or advancement purposes of their employees.
Curriculum Building
Used when districts are building their own curriculum using grade level or subject area teams. Allows for
multiple lessons to meet the same common core standard to provide teachers with more flexibility.