Exemplary practice in work‐based education: a validation study

Abstract

This paper validates the concept of exemplary practice in work‐based education (WBE) programs. The validation uses two theoretical frameworks: Social Cognitive Career Theory, and Billett’s research on workplace learning. The empirical component of the validation study consists of two widely differing case studies of high school students in work placements. Concepts found in previous research (communication, assessment and evaluation, linking school and workplace learning, and creating a pathway) are evident in the data of this study and are consistent with the theoretical frameworks, thus validating the concept of exemplary practice.

Acknowledgement

This paper is from the research program on co‐op education and workplace learning, ‘Linking school‐based and work‐based learning in the knowledge economy: studies of appropriation, science, and equity’ (Hugh Munby, Nancy L. Hutchinson, and Peter Chin, investigators) funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Montreal, PQ, April 2005. More information about the work of CEWL is available at http://educ.queensu.ca/∼cewl/