Facilitating School-to-Work Transition: Teacher Involvement and Contributions

Work in Progress at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

To meet the school-to-work goal of moving from isolated programs to a system that assists large numbers of students to successfully transition to work, all school personnel must understand, support, and contribute to the effort. Most teachers' experiences, however, are school-based and have not included ways that meaningful linkages can be created so students may be assisted as they transition to work. The purpose of this project is to examine the attitudes, expertise, and knowledge that teachers in collaboration with others must have to establish and sustain long-term links with employers that facilitate students' transition to work. Specific research questions that are being addressed include (1) What activities do teachers involved in school-to-work programs conduct that contribute to program success? (2) What competencies and knowledge do teachers use as they conduct successful school-to-work programs? and (3) What specific professional development experiences do teachers perceive as helping them conduct school-to-work activities?

To answer the questions, information about teachers' involvement in and contributions to the facilitation of school-to-work transition is being gathered via community profiles at exemplary sites. To date, three sites have been visited with three other visits scheduled for 1995, and four to six scheduled for spring 1996. The participating sites were selected based on criteria including (a) the extent and effectiveness of school-to work linkages and other involvement between schools and employers, (b) the extent to which school- and work-based programs are fully operational and are graduating students from these programs, and (c) documentation of the long-term commitment that schools, employers, and the community have made to school-to-work transition. Sites are selected from nominations provided by state school-to-work coordinators.

At each site information was, or will be, gathered from teachers, students, administrators, counselors, employers, and community representatives. These individuals represent involvement in school-based learning, work-based learning, and activities linking school-based and work-based learning. Information collection from teachers is primarily by interview using the critical-incident technique to help interviewees focus on describing examples of teachers' best practices. Questions also focus on identifying professional development activities that have had the greatest positive impact on teachers. Student input is being gathered via focus group procedures, with 8 to 12 students participating in each group. Students provide input about their experiences with school-to-work activities and their perceptions of teachers' contributions to these experiences. Finally, descriptive information is being gathered at each site (by interviewing administrators, counselors, and employers) that details the school-to-work system as a whole, including community, school-based learning site or sites, school-to-work linkages, and the work-based learning site or sites.

This field-based research will provide teachers with valuable information about the attitudes, expertise, and knowledge they will need to successfully fulfill their responsibilities in school-to-work programs. Project results will also benefit policy makers, teacher educators, corporate training managers, and others by providing useful information about strategies teachers can use to link schools and work as they effectively facilitate student school-to-work transition. Project reports will include a detailed presentation of research procedures and outcomes and a practitioner's guide focusing on practical applications of the research outcomes.

For further information about this project, please contact:
B. June Schmidt or Curtis R. Finch
NCRVE Site at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
National Center for Research in Vocational Education
112 Lane Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0254
(540) 231-5982 or FAX: (540) 231 3292
E-mail: crfinch@vt.edu

Table of Contents | Next Article | Previous Article