Massachusetts Connecting Activities

 


Connecting Activities Database - Database Manual

1 - INTRODUCTION TO THE DATABASE - VIDEO
1a - Key Points About the Database
1b - REGISTERING AND SIGNING IN - VIDEO
1c - Navigating the Database Screens
2 - USING THE PLACEMENT SCREEN - VIDEO
2a -Classifying Placements - Activity Name, Program Checkboxes, Job Title, etc.
2a.1 - FY2024 Placement Screen Definitions and Discussion
2b. Classifying and Defining STEM Placements
2c - Placement and WBLP Screen - Sharing via Email/Username
2d - Participants with more than one work experience
2d - Worksites with multiple participants - Using the COPY WBLP button
2e - Placement Screen - Required and Optional Fields
2g - Work and Learning Program Elements (Preview of FY19 elements)
2h - Career Areas
2z - Deleting Placement Screen Records
3 - USING THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND SKILLS/TASKS SCREENS - VIDEO
4 - USING THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW SCREEN - VIDEO
5 - ACTIVITY SCREEN - VIDEO
6 - Reflection Screen
7 - Importing
8 - REPORTS MENU AND EMPLOYER SCREENS - POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
8a - About the Reports/Admin Menu
8b - Connecting Activities Quarterly Report
8c - Connecting Activities Qualifying Wages Report
8d - Custom Reports
8e - Employer Screens
9 - Sharing, Collaboration and Privacy
9a - UPDATING MY ACCOUNT SETTINGS - VIDEO
9b - Add | Invite New Usernames
9c - Using the "One-Step WBLP Review Screen" for Supervisors
9d: Instructions for students to create their WBLPs online
DATABASE FIELD LIST
What's New in the Database
Winter/Spring 2019 Webinar Series

About the Massachusetts Connecting Activities Database

This database, developed and maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Connecting Activities initiative, is used by a variety of youth employment and internship programs across Massachusetts.

Work-Based Learning Plans

The centerpiece of the database is the Work-Based Learning Plan section. This section captures information about participants` structured work experiences. When users sign in, they can complete Work-Based Learning Plans online, as well as generate summary reports and find examples of related job descriptions. Work-Based Learning Plan screens include:

  • Step 1: Basic placement details
  • Step 2: Job description
  • Step 3: List of skills
  • Step 4: Performance review and goal setting.

Data from Career Awareness and Exploration Activities

The database also captures information about career awareness and exploration activities sponsored by schools and other organizations, such as job shadowing programs, career fairs, company tours, and other activities designed to help youth plan for their futures. The data collection about these kinds of activities contributes to the evolving systems of Career Development Education (CDE) offered across the state. This kind of data is recorded in the "Activities" section of the database, which also offers an "Activity List" where program staff can browse to get ideas from their colleagues.

What are the benefits of the database for users?

  • For students: feedback from your supervisor and an opportunity for reflection about your work experience.
  • For employers: a tool for opening up conversations and providing feedback to interns.
  • For staff: a variety of reports and lists, including "skill gain reports" and other information to help you manage and assess your programs.
  • For DESE: information about major trends across the state with respect to youth employment, such as the industries that are most active in brokered experiences, any local or regional trends, and the skills that are most impacted by the experiences.

Impact of Data Collection.

From the information gathered in the database, the Connecting Activities initiative is able to provide a summary of the landscape of career development education activities across Massachusetts. Summary-level information is aggregated to provide total counts statewide and by region, along with examples of career development activities, job descriptions and skills. (Individual information is always confidential, with examples of job descriptions, skills, activities and other details shared as allowed by the database user.) The database provides a valuable tool for managing information about your own program and for getting inspiration from what other schools and programs are doing throughout Massachusetts.

Who can use the database?

The database is available for use by any Massachusetts youth employment/internship program and/or career development program. Simply fill out the database registration form to sign up to use the database. See the "Database Sharing and Privacy" details for information about how to share information with colleagues in your program.