Career-based learning experiences (CBLEs) are business-connected experiences and opportunities that allow K-12 students to participate in career awareness, career exploration, or career development. This chart shows the most common CBLEs, which include work-based learning (WBL) experiences, a subset of CBLEs that meets the quality and rigor requirements for career and technical education (CTE) as defined in the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). For a thorough discussion of CBLEs, including WBLs, see the Wisconsin Guide to Implementing Career-Based Learning Experiences.
In Wisconsin, the ACP process bridges academic classroom learning with the steps needed to identify a potential career choice. As they learn more about themselves, students are better able to recognize career possibilities and educational pathways that match their interests. Experiential learning provides students with a firsthand look at:
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what careers are like,
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how school-based learning is relevant,
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what skills are needed in a given career, and
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how they can use the skills they have in a real-world setting.
Most importantly, students can evaluate how interested they are in a given career and adjust their plans accordingly.