New platform content: ‘Work Experience’ learning module

The Persona Life Skills online learning platform now includes a new teacher-facilitated learning module, 'Work Experience', in which students learn social-emotional life skills to help them prepare for any work experience, recognise transferable skills and influence the success of their placement.

6-Oct-23

By Dr Leila Khouja Walker, Chief Product Officer

In the Persona Life Skills social-emotional online learning platform, 'Work Experience' is a new 60 min teacher-facilitated learning module, where students learn how to prepare in advance for a new job. This new module is part of a growing library of modules covering different career and work life challenges, including making job choices, getting along with colleagues, and leadership, among others.

Students are taken on a journey through preparing for any work experience opportunity. They are guided to recognise transferable skills they can gain from work experience, and how these skills could help them benefit from future work experience, or even land a desirable job. They also learn how being adaptable can influence the success of their work experience.

Questions and activities in this module help students develop three social-emotional life skills, through a personality insights lens:

• Time Management – Managing my time, so I don't disappoint myself or others
• Respect – Being respectful of others, regardless of any difference
• Being Adaptable – Being able to adapt my thinking and communication, to achieve positive outcomes

In the 'Get Your Bearings' warm-up, students consider how they should prepare for their work experience, gain an understanding of what transferable skills are, and importantly, how to develop a growth mindset.

In the 'Explore' knowledge acquisition section, students are encouraged to consider which transferable skills they would like to focus on. They are given tips on how to ask for feedback, and begin to understand that each experience is an opportunity to show their potential to future employers, and that working is a continuous journey in which they can learn, adapt and grow.

As students reach the 'Viewpoint' plenary at the end of the module, they are asked to reflect on what they have learned, to ensure they feel well prepared for their work experience. Students leave knowing more about growth mindset, receiving feedback to continue developing transferable skills, and adapting to communicating appropriately and effectively in the workplace.

Work Experience is part of the Discovery Islands curriculum – the Persona Life Skills life challenge learning modules. Teachers with a free account can play through this module. A subscription is required to make it available to students. 

Persona Education offers free access to its Persona Life Skills e-learning platform for secondary schools and colleges interested in developing their students’ social-emotional life skills, to boost wellbeing and employability. To request a live demo of the platform please get in touch – we would love to talk to you!

About the author: Dr Leila Khouja Walker has been working in the education sector for 25 years. An ex-teacher and pastoral deputy head, she is now a respected edtech and pedagogy thought leader, leading development of the personality insights life skills e-learning app Persona Life Skills, at the Bristol based edtech company Persona Education Ltd. www.persona-life.com