Survey of New Jersey K‐12 Professionals on Work‐Based Learning During COVID‐19: A Preliminary Study and Future Implications

Abstract

BACKGROUND The New Jersey Safe Schools Program (NJSS) offers an online professional development certification course, titled “Designing and Implementing Student Training Plans,” for NJ high school (HS) teachers developing secondary school student work‐based learning (WBL) programs. WBL provides students opportunities to engage in career‐related field tasks, aligned to curricular instruction. METHODS In January‐July 2021, during 7 cohorts of trainings, questions in the training's assignment gauged teacher and student concerns regarding worksite placements during the COVID‐19 pandemic, learning delivery format preferences, and alternative activities for WBL credit. RESULTS In January‐July 2021, 68 of 134 HS teachers (51%) were concerned placing students in WBL and indicated “no” and “I don't know” (37% and 31%, respectively) about employer willingness to offer virtual mentorship during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS This preliminary study presents insights of newly credentialed WBL supervisory HS teachers regarding impacts of COVID‐19 on student health and workplace safety, preferred WBL formats, and potential implementation of COVID‐19 safety trainings.

Perspectives and Attitudes of Newer New Jersey High School Teachers towards Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Consumer Products Used in School Classrooms

“…Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the NJSS published many papers regarding actions and perceptions among teachers' responses to different COVID-19-related issues. These studies focused on vaccine practices [42,43], teacher mental health [44], perceptions of WBL activities during the pandemic [45], trends in COVID-19 outbreaks [46], and apprenticeships in NJ [47]. These studies are consistent with the NJSS mission to continue understanding NJ experiences and needs during the pandemic and to ensure safe schools for teachers and students.…”