I-WIN Resource Hub

An Overview of Resources

Work-Based Learning Continuum for Manufacturing

The following resource is compiled of models across the work-based learning continuum from communities throughout Illinois to offer high-quality experiences in manufacturing. We hope school districts and their partners can utilize, repurpose, and apply these models to support the design and implementation of work-based learning experiences aligned to a manufacturing pathway.

Alignment Rockford created a series of videos exploring manufacturing professions:

ConnectED created a Day at Work video series, which includes manufacturing and engineering professions.

Chicago Public Schools hosts a Girls in Future Careers event to expose female students to career possibilities in the trades, healthcare, IT, and manufacturing. The event brings together industry experts and diversity-focused employers in a safe and inclusive space. Students engage with partners and participate in hands-on activities, presentations led by industry partners, and panel discussions. A sample event schedule is:

9:30-10:00 am: Light Breakfast
10:00-10:30 am: Welcome & Keynote by Kina McAfee, Mid America Carpenters
10:30-11:30 am: Panel Discussion with Industry Leaders (Questions led by CPS Students, Topic: Closing the Gap on Gender Gap Disparities)
11:00-12:30 am: Hands-on Activities/Financial Literacy/Soft Skills/Health Eating Workshops
12:30-1:00 pm: Closing Mindfulness Exercise
1:30 pm: End of Program

I-WIN’s Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, and Trades – Ideas for Inspiration lists concepts your team can use to jump start the team-based challenge design process.

Northern Kane County shared about their regional team-based challenge, the 2023 Precision Machining Competition, in an I-WIN convening. Download sample blueprints.
Additional authentic problems used in team-based challenges:
- Supply chain disruption – What impact has the supply chain disruption had on manufacturing? How can companies ensure that the raw materials and ingredients that go into their products come from reputable suppliers, and that their distributors deliver goods to customers on-time and in the condition promised?
- Labor shortage – How to overcome too few graduates educated in STEM disciplines, an outdated reputation of workplaces that aren’t safe, clean, or progressive, as well as the misconception by younger generations that manufacturing lacks competitive wages, innovation, and sophistication?
- Worker safety – What are common safety concerns in the workplace and how can safety be ensured in manufacturing?
- Emerging technologies in manufacturing – What is at the forefront of emerging technologies in manufacturing and what impact will this technology have on the workforce and the demand for these products?
- Eliminating wasteful materials – How can companies increase operational efficiency and ensure that perishable ingredients are used prior to their expiration date to eliminate waste?

Schools and partners are finding effective ways to address concerns around liability and labor laws for students under 18 years old participating in work-based learning. They are engaging employer partners in myth-busting conversations about legal limitations for high school interns and carefully reviewing the Child Labor Bulletin 101 to identify what tasks are legally permissible and where they’re documented. Learn more.
Naperville Community Unit District 203 and Cherry Creek School District in Colorado are innovating by creating in-house internship opportunities for students, placing them in roles within their own schools and district offices, including in transportation. Learn more.
A collaborative program offers a three-tiered student internship program at McLaughlin Body to juniors and seniors attending Moline High School. The experiences include exposure to five different engineering-based careers, completing certain work-readiness standards, resume and job interview preparation and support, and possibly future full-time paid employment with McLaughlin Body.
The Participant Task Examples by Pathway Endorsement Area resource includes manufacturing (see page 4)
John Deere’s registered apprenticeship presentation, “Getting to Yes – Common Business Questions,” addresses questions about insurance and engaging students under 18 (see page 10)
VALEES summer internship commitment form
Boone County’s internship program resources (includes presentation, internship descriptions, parent/student info sheet, employer flier, employer 1-page handout, and employer host resources)
Northern Kane County Regional Vocational System EFE 110’s internship/apprenticeship program (includes presentation, program model, program timeline, business partner development flow chart, student application and form, student placement flow chart, and sample employer job description)
Sample CDE descriptions:
- Document Control Internship from Aux Sable Gas processing and NGL industry
- Electronic and hydraulic internships from Perfection Servo. The company offers 10-week summer internships. Resources include job descriptions and sample summer internship calendar.
- Quality Auditor Internship from Metalstamp, manufacturer of precision metal stampings

Related Resources

Employer Resources for Hosting High School Internships in Manufacturing

In partnership with the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Education Foundation, EdSystems developed one-pager resources that specify how to best support students at every stage of their journey from elementary to and through postsecondary, with a focus on shifting how we speak about and engage women in manufacturing experiences.

Welcoming Young Talent: How to Prepare for High School Interns: This resource outlines strategies for companies to create an environment that welcomes young talent, including preparing for high school interns, setting expectations, and fostering a positive work environment.
Navigating Legalities and Logistics: Hosting Manufacturing Interns Under Age 18: Addressing employer concerns about hosting underage interns, this resource provides employer models and resources to support companies to confidently engage high school students in manufacturing internships while complying with regulations.
Onboarding and Supporting Manufacturing Interns: Building a Strong Foundation for Success: This resource focuses on establishing a robust onboarding process for high school interns and provides insights on creating a structured and supportive environment, enabling interns to thrive in their roles.
Cultivating Success: Mentorship in the High School Internship: Recognizing the importance of mentorship, this resource offers guidance on fostering meaningful mentor-mentee relationships. It emphasizes the role of mentors in shaping the learning experience and ensuring the overall success of high school interns.
Connecting the Dots: Supporting Interns on Their Journey to College and Career Success: The final resource in the set focuses on the post-internship phase. It provides a roadmap for companies to support interns in their transition to college and career readiness, ensuring a clear next step for those who complete the experience.

Make the Future™, Connecting Girls to Manufacturing

The National Alliance for Equity in Partnerships provides free resources to help educators, counselors, administrators, and recruiters break down barriers to engage more young women in STEM education and pursue manufacturing careers. The following resources may be especially helpful for intentional recruitment and engagement of young women in manufacturing pathways:

Department of Labor: Can 16- And 17-Year-Olds Be Employed in Manufacturing?

Presentation slides from VIA and TMA workshop
One-page document that summarizes the presentation
Both include references, including direct quotes, to the Department of Labor regulations

Manufacturing Work-Based Learning Continuum of Experiences

The I-WIN community of practice on February 16, 2022 focused on experiences along the work-based learning continuum in the manufacturing sector.

Presenters include:

Sarah Hartwick, Vice President of Education & Workforce Policy, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Eric Lasky, Assistant Principal, Ridgewood High School
Lisa Balata, Division Head of Curriculum, Ridgewood High School

Download the Presentation

Onboarding and Supporting Employer Partners

At the I-WIN convening on December 14, 2022, Valley Education for Employment System (VALEES) shared how it is engaging employers in their region to be prepared to host and support young people in work-based learning opportunities, including internships. Through an ISBE pilot opportunity in school year 2021–22, VALEES developed an internship micro-credential for employers that is informing this work.

Download the presentation