Cooperative Learning Experiences Enhance Educational Outcomes

High school marketing education programs often incorporate a cooperative work experience option for students, enhancing classroom instruction through applied, on-the-job experiences. When effectively managed, the classroom curriculum and work experiences are closely correlated. These programs offer students opportunities to learn specific employment skills, apply elements of the curriculum to business situations and develop critical school-to-work transitional skills.

Quality cooperative marketing education programs include these key elements:

• Identification (by the instructor) of appropriate work sites and work assignments related to a student's long-term interests.
• Intervention by the instructor:

- monitoring the day-to-day work experience, including planning of on-the-job responsibilities, hours of employment, and training and evaluation processes.

- coordinating and monitoring training experiences, reviewing student performance, ascertaining additional in-school training needs and evaluating the overall quality of work experience in relation to educational outcomes.

• Written agreements between the school and business clearly documenting the intent of the relationship—education and training.
• A clear understanding that the company is investing in the long-term development of an employee, with an emphasis on growth, leading to additional responsibilities and potential promotions.
• Written documentation of training expectations, including job rotation and a training plan of specific skills and concepts to be learned and evaluated on the job.
• Written documentation of learning outcomes achieved in the classroom and in the cooperative work experience.
• Designation of a mentor-supervisor at the place of business who is charged with the professional development of the individual student.