As the new school year begins, we’re excited to share a lineup of sessions designed to build community and increase awareness of exemplary models and resources to support high-quality work-based learning across Illinois and nationally. We look forward to engaging together as a network this year and all that we will learn!

Heather Penczak
Director of Innovation // I-WIN Project Lead

Fall I-WIN Sessions

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This fall, we will feature a blend of community presentations showcasing their models and resources, along with informal discussions addressing the most pressing questions and topics for the I-WIN community.

Illinois Work-Based Learning 101

Tuesday, September 3, 12–1 p.m.
Free // Virtual

Kick off the school year with an introduction to work-based learning fundamentals. Whether you are new to your role or would benefit from a refresher, join us to better understand the resources and communities available to support you in your work.

>> Register now

Essential Skills and Career Exploration: Empowering K-12 Students for the Future

Tuesday, September 10, 10–11 a.m.
Free // Virtual

Join I-WIN for an engaging session focused on developing essential skills and providing career exploration opportunities for K-12 students. Learn about a new career exploration curriculum plus a new training site for educators interested in implementing the GPEAK curriculum for essential employability competencies.

>> Register now

In-Person Opportunity! VIP Tours at CareerSpark

Wednesday, October 2, 12–3 p.m.
Free // Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave, Peoria, IL 61602

The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council warmly invites the I-WIN community to join 4,000+ 8th graders on October 2, 2024, at their annual CareerSpark event for a day of career exploration at the Peoria Civic Center. Space is limited!

>> Complete the interest form by September 13

Roundtable Discussion: Employer Partnerships

Wednesday, October 23, 12–1 p.m.
Free // Virtual

Join the I-WIN community for an informal roundtable on building and strengthening employer partnerships. We will discuss navigating the expansion of work-based learning with employer partners and how to best match student interest with employer opportunities.

>> Register now

Cultivating Internal Culture and Regional Systems for Work-Based Learning

Thursday, November 14, 12–1 p.m.
Free // Virtual

Valley View School District is taking work-based learning to the next level with three exciting new initiatives. Join us to learn how they’re deepening their understanding of and support for stakeholders while increasing career development experiences.

>> Register now

Roundtable Discussion

Tuesday, December 17, 12–1 p.m.
Free // Virtual

I-WIN roundtable discussions create space for practitioners to share challenges, successes, and best practices in work-based learning. Bring your questions, insights, and resources as we engage in a collaborative conversation to overcome obstacles and enhance our collective efforts. This is an excellent opportunity to learn from peers, gain new perspectives, and contribute to a supportive community of practice.

>> Register now

Support for Work-Based Learning

A lot happened at the end of last school year and over the summer! In case you missed it, we’re sharing two new resources:

Resource

High-Quality Criteria for Work-Based Learning

To help communities enhance their work-based learning programs and ensure equitable access for schools with varying capacities, EdSystems released the new “Scaling Work-Based Learning: Quality Criteria for Continuous Improvement and Equity” resource.

With generous support from the Walton Family Foundation, EdSystems assembled a diverse statewide advisory group to create criteria for districts to improve their professional learning offerings in line with the College and Career Pathways Endorsement. The document is now final and serves as a companion piece to the new “Quality Criteria for College and Career Pathways Implementation” resource.

Resource

Micro-Internship Model

As a part of the Illinois Math Badging Initiative, EdSystems, together with XQ Institute, ran a six-week, 30-hour, paid, virtual micro-internship for 11 high school students from Charleston High School, Illinois Math and Science Academy, and Ridgewood High School. The interns’ primary role was identifying real-world situations involving mathematical concepts and applying investigative methods to understand these scenarios. Learn more about the model internship structure detailing internship recruitment, onboarding, implementation, student feedback, and lessons learned.