TAKING EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM…
Teachers
Business
Partners
Students
John Doerge
Community Relations
Deloitte
Bob Kucher
Community Relations
PENCIL Foundation
Experiential Learning
Mary York
Academy Coach - Overton High School
Metro Nashville Public Schools
METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BUSINESS PARTNER EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING RESOURCES
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https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B7R1Oa51AblfkF3OHNYM09YNWVlSFFldExycmh5Q2otWGVHZENCZ00yOWw4di1IQm0tZXM&usp=sharing
ACADEMIES OF NASHVILLE
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING MODEL
Career Exploration Fair
Students complete career exploration research at school in preparation for their visit to the
Career Exploration Fair and learn about "professionalism." The Career Fair allows
companies to work together to represent career areas for students to explore. Students
also participate in an essay contest and other follow up activities to show what they
learned. Students speak with at least three business volunteers, ask questions, and
participate in hands on activities.
College Visit
Students leave the school campus with their classmates and spend part of the day on a college
campus in/around Nashville; campuses visited may include technical, two-year, four-year, or graduate
colleges and universities. College visits are not intended to be a recruitment tool; rather, they are
intended to expose students to the possibility of pursuing higher education upon high school
graduation. College visits occur during the 9th grade year, though students may also participate in
college visits in consecutive years leading up to graduation
Industry Related Field Trip
Students leave the school campus (or access on campus business locations) and spend part of the day
on an industry related field trip that reflects the theme of their academy; in a large group setting,
students observe and interact with a variety of industry professionals reflecting myriad career options
within the industry, which supplements and enriches lessons taught in the classroom. Field trips occur
during the 10th grade year in order to help solidify a student's academy and pathway choice.
Job Shadow Days
Students leave the school campus (or access on campus business locations) and spend part of the day
observing professionals in a career area related to their academy and/or interests; students ask
questions and complete assignments before, during, and after the shadowing experience to help
connect coursework with real-world requirements and expectations. Job shadowing occurs during the
11th grade year in order to further develop a student's postsecondary readiness.
Capstone
Students participate in a capstone experience during his or her senior year of high school. A capstone
experience is a project that allows students to learn about his or herself by moving an idea or dream
toward a topic of interest, specialization, community need, or career choice. According to the
Tennessee graduation requirements, all students must complete a capstone experience. This requires
the completion of a research paper, product, portfolio, and presentation while engaging with
community partners for at least 40 hours.
Internships
Students engage in the study of a program directly related to career interests and participate in a
workplace setting by performing duties related to the occupation being studied; internships can be
paid or un-paid and require a minimum of a consecutive 40-hour work experience resulting in the
completion of a project related to the assignment. Internships typically occur during the 12th grade
year in order to assist students in the completion of a capstone project, but students may obtain an
internship at any point during the high school experience. Credit for an internship is awarded when
students enroll in the Capstone course during the senior year and use the internship to fulfill the
capstone course requirements.
Students
The Student
Before sending students on experiential learning, it is
important to prepare the students.
Some things they need to know:
• Where are they going?
• How will they get there?
• What do they need to wear?
• How long will they be gone?
Students
The Student
Students should also have some
knowledge of the company and what
they will be observing. If it is a job
shadow, ideally it will align with their
pathway and interests.
Students
You have to spell it out.
Please wear professional Dress.
Please don’t were the following items:
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Navy, blue, black, or khaki pants
Collared shirts or blouses (tucked in)
Blazer or sweater
Knee length skirts and dresses
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Jeans
Hoodies
Leggings (unless under a knee length
dress or skirt)
Flip flops
Revealing, tight, or baggy clothing
Jackets with large logos
Hats
Please bring:
Do not have the following out during your
visit:
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Folder
Pen
Observation sheets, job shadowing
packet, or clean paper
Cell phones
Headphones
MP3 players or iPods
Backpacks and large bags
Gum
Beverages or food
School
The School
The role of an Academy Coach
School
The School’s role in a Job Shadow Day
• The majority of experiential learning is set up by the Academy Coach,
but not always. In some instances, experiential learning is arranged
through the students’ personal contacts or through the teachers’
personal contacts.
• When set up by the academy coach, the coach works with the
business partner to determine date, time, number of students, and
lunch details.
• After that is determined, the coach fills out the appropriate
paperwork and determines transportation.
• It is then up to the teacher to determine which
students will attend the job shadow.
What is an academy partner?
An Academy Partner is a PENCIL Partner that has formalized a partnership with a high school
academy. Partnership activities vary, depending on the academy’s needs and a business’s
interests and resources. Goals for partnerships between businesses and academies are to
improve graduation rates, build relationships between students and positive adult role
models, and support positive outcomes after high school graduation, including further
education and entry into high-wage, high-demand careers.
What are the expectations of an academy partner?
• Commit to work together for at least one school year.
• Identify a partnership coordinator who will be the chief contact for the school.
• Participate in a planning session with the school’s Academy Advisory Board to
determine how best to work together with the school and with other academy
partners.
• Support the goals of the academy in at least one activity.
• Report the time your organization spends on the partnership through
www.schoolvolunteers.org.
Activities and engagement opportunities for Academy partners
Loaned
Classroom
Instructors
Field Trips
Teacher
Externships
Career
Mentors
Curriculum
Advice
Academy
Advisory
Board
Job
Shadowing
Student
Internships
Guest
Speakers
Business
The Business
Business
The Business
How to be a successful partner
• Be engaged
• Understand the needs, goals and expectations of the
school/Academy
• Let the school know what you have to offer
• Work with other business partners to meet the school’s
needs – Collaborate
The Business
Business
How to Prepare for the Day
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Know the students or teachers you are working with
Where will you host the students or teachers
What should be the take away from the experience
Don’t make it CEO for a Day
Pick the right volunteers
Prepare your volunteers
Make it a great experience for all
Follow up with the school and the volunteers
Business
The Business
Group vs. Individual Experiences
Time
Session
5 min
Welcome
15 min
Company Orientation
A company leader explains what our
organization does, who works here, what
our employees do and what type of
education you need to work here.
1 hr.
Professionals Panel
4 -5 young professionals answer questions
about their career and learning paths.
Questions are also taken from the
students.
15 min
Office Tour
Students are shown the various types of
workspaces, teaming sites and
community spaces. Students are shown
the technology used in our work.
30 min
Career Game/Activity
Students will work in small groups on a
career focused game or activity. Teams
will report out at the end of the session.
30 min
Lunch
45 min
Job Shadow Time
Students are matched with a professional
for one-on-one time in the employee’s
workspace
15 min
Closing Comments
10 min
Group Photo
JOB SHADOW
SCHEDULE FOR STUDENT
GROUPS
Job Shadow Day
Agenda
8:00 a.m.
Introductions
8:20 a.m.
Job Shadow Time
11:00 a.m.
Office Tour
11:30 a.m.
Lunch with hosts
12:15 p.m.
Wrap-up
JOB SHADOW
SCHEDULE FOR
INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS
School
Thinking Outside of the Box
• Virtual Job Shadows
• What is Internship
• Using what is already happening in the school
• Transportation Issues
• Creative Scheduling
METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BUSINESS PARTNER EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING RESOURCES

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B7R1Oa51AblfkF3OHNYM09YNWVlSFFldExycmh5Q2otWGVHZENCZ00yOWw4di1IQm0tZXM&usp=sharing
School
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Thank you