Project RIII.3
High Performance Learning in the Fast Food Industry

Project Directors:

• James Stone and Theodore Lewis, University of Minnesota (Year 1 of 2)

Keywords:

• work-based learning
• high-performance learning

This quasi-experimental study is designed to examine the impact of specific employer interventions on the occupational and academic development of young people working in the fast food industry. These interventions include "pay for learning," worker empowerment, parental involvement, and adult mentors.

Presentations will be made at appropriate conferences of practitioners and researchers (e.g., AERA, SRA [Science Research Associates], AVA), to specific audiences (e.g., NASSP [National Association of Secondary School Principals], NASB [National Association of School Boards]), and at appropriate business conventions (e.g., NRMA). At least one of these presentations will involve one or more models for connecting this type of work to school.

The final product will be a report of the study. Part of this report will contain recommendations regarding strategies for reshaping the youth-dominated workplace so that adolescents develop desirable social and workplace behaviors and knowledge.

We envision multiple audiences who will be interested in the results of this study. These include the following groups:

• The business community. We propose to present the results of our study to various industry groups at the national level with special emphasis on cost-effective and low impact activities.
• School-to-Work transition planners and policymakers at the state level
• Local area STWO Act coordinators/facilitators
• Teachers

NCRVE Home | Agenda Contents | Previous | Next | Index