Dont underestimate how much

your student benefits just from

having access to a work
environment like yours for
the first time.

High impact, student-led

work experience

Weve selected students for whom the

professional world is a real unknown and
seems inaccessible. This perspective is often
reinforced by peers and family members, not
to mention physical distance.

a simple how-to from Boundless

A week at your organisation is a rare and
powerful opportunity for a student from an
outer-suburbs or regional school.

Work experience with you is the best way to

challenge this perspective. We know that
the aspirations of students from low socioeconomic status schools are more likely to
be informed by personal experience and
word-of-mouth accounts than by formal
resources like careers guides.

Even small efforts will make a big impact on

your students confidence and aspirations.

Your role is to set up

scenarios for your student
to learn from. Its not about
delivering content.
Best practice teaching tells us that students
should be responsible for their own learning.
In education-speak, students need to do the
cognitive-lift themselves!
Your student will get the most out of their
experience where they feel ownership over a
task or deliverable.

Students from Wanganui Park

Secondary College, Shepparton
ahead of their June 2015 work
experience placements in
Melbourne.

Ask yourself the 5 simple

questions in this guide to
get the most impact for your
student.

What skills or ways of thinking

do I use in my role to solve problems?
This question is the first step in identifying what you
want your student to learn. Keep your objective in mind
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES as you design tasks.

What is an engaging example of

where this skill is relevant?
By using an example or story as a hook, you can help
your student to appreciate why you do what you do.
Your example could be a problem youre currently facing.
Maybe youre working on an interesting project, or planning a
new initiative or event?

In a law firm, for example, you might

want your student to learn how to:

Equally, the most engaging example might be something youve

dealt with in the past, or a scenario that is similar to your work.

identify distinct arguments for or

against a proposition;
analyse risks or opportunities
that arise from new cases or
legislation;

A law firm: The Federal Court has recently held in the case of
Dallas Buyers Club LLC v iiNet Limited that iiNet must disclose
the identities of people who allegedly shared the movie online.
We need to inform our different clients about this development
in the area of online piracy.

understand your business model

and client base;

A science lab: We have designed a new compound and

need explain to the government how we know it is safe.

categorise evidence or
summarise a chain of
correspondence.

THE HOOK

In a science lab, your student could

learn how to:
clearly communicate research
methodology and results to
possible customers or funders;

What can I ask my student to

produce to demonstrate the skill?

follow processes for conducting

tests, operating equipment and
ordering materials;
identify safety or ethical issues.

Boundless 3

THE
DELIVERABLE

Be as concrete as possible.
A summary of 5 news articles. A 10 slide powerpoint presentation.
A flow-chart of key steps. A 3 question survey of 20 staff or
customers. A gentle letter and a more forceful one. A research
memo on 6 clients or competitors.

What instructions do I need to give

my student?
THE
BRIEFING

Share your work experience stories!

Have a discussion with your student around the hook

and the deliverable.
Set a deadline, and mention what resources your student
should use. Your database or library, or the internet? Which
other people in your team can help with particular questions?
Remember that students learn more when they are doing the
cognitive lift. Consider flipping this briefing: your student might
be able to form a plan and then brief you on these matters.

How did your student go? Did

they achieve the learning objectives?
Ask your student to present the deliverable to you or
a member of your team. They might be nervous about ASSESS AND
chatting it through with you, but this is an important challenge. REFLECT
It will also increase the likelihood that your student will retain the
information.
Feedback is the best way to enhance students learning.
Do not hesitate to share your thoughts with your student on
how their work could be improved and which parts of the task
they did well.
Afterwards, it is important for your student to
consolidate what they have learnt by reflecting. Provide
time for your student to complete a journal entry about aspects
of the task they enjoyed, found challenging or would change
next time.

Boundless 5

Liana, Maleeka and Bonnie

from Mill Park Secondary
College are excited about their
work experience placements!

By welcoming a student into your workplace, youre making a big impact on

their future and an important contribution to our community.
You can demonstrate and celebrate your contribution by sharing
photos and news through your networks and social media.
/boundless-work-experience

@boundlessAU

boundless.org.au

We would love to visit you during the week to meet you and see how
things are going! Well ask for your feedback so that we can keep improving
next time around.
You can contact Cameron (cameron@boundless.org.au, 0400 545 196) or
Tim (tim@boundless.org.au, 0412 598 557) to run through your ideas or to
ask any questions.

Boundless Foundation Limited 2015.