Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) Network

Experience.Work: Where Education and Industry Collide

CAPS Network allows a K-12 school or district to leverage a robust ecosystem of innovative educators who are currently connecting students to professionals through a shared framework. Experience.Work explores profession-based learning via inspiring stories and practical tools with industry leaders who have successfully worked with local educators, bringing value to students and industry alike.

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HundrED 2024

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Overview

HundrED has selected this innovation to

HundrED Global Collection 2024

HundrED Global Collection 2023

Updated February 2025

Web presence

2015

Established

13K 2023

15K 2024

16K 2025

25

Countries

Students upper

Target group

We hope to find all students, regardless of background or country of origin, connected to authentic, profession-based learning opportunities that assist them in discovering purpose. Specifically, we believe cross-connecting in the Hundred community can result in a "network effect" to accelerate this innovation from linear to exponential scale, benefiting children all around the world.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

Experience.Work was created to bridge the gap between education and industry, providing educators with a structured way to engage professionals in real-world student projects. It streamlines collaboration between teachers and industry leaders, designing authentic learning experiences that prepare students for the workforce by developing critical skills through hands-on, profession-based learning.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

The CAPS model treats students as adults that own their learning and make mistakes without punishment. Recent examples of student projects include the construction of a sensory chair for children with autism that was licensed internationally, a data analytics solution that saved Fortune 500 company over $2 million, and an app created to connect those with mental illness with supports. Experience.Work is a platform that connects educators and industry professionals, providing free resources, guides and stories to help educators design real-world projects and build industry partnerships. Businesses learn from peers, explore successful collaborations, and engage with students to support workforce development. The story exchange highlights real experiences from educators, students, and industry leaders, showcasing the impact of Pro-BL. With articles, best practices, and networking tools, Experience.Work empowers communities to create meaningful learning experiences locally with no expense.

How has it been spreading?

The CAPS Network reaches over 16,000 students and has over 60,000 alumni, via 122 affiliate programs. Connection to Hundred is driving new global activity, including reach into five new countries in the first month of launch of Experience.Work.

Experience.Work has been spreading through strategic amplification by our partners at American Student Assistance (ASA), leveraging their national reach to promote profession-based learning. Through targeted social media campaigns, digital advertising, and strategic storytelling, the platform reaches educators and industry leaders who need these resources. ASA’s network, combined with intentional outreach efforts by CAPS Network, ensures that more communities discover free supports and implement Experience.Work to transform student learning.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

We love connecting with others that share our purpose. Anyone interested in partnering should explore CAPS: https://yourcapsnetwork.org and https://experience.work

CAPS growth metrics are powerful and undeniable. In a recent survey completed by over 2,000 students, confidence jumped significantly in 12 categories of soft skills. Full results at https://tinyurl.com/CAPSNETF21.

Impact & scalability

HundrED Academy Reviews

This innovation creates a curriculum that meets the passion of students. This profound model brings out the creative best of every learner.

CAPS can be integrated into all education levels, especially in secondary and higher where education is targeted at orienting students professionally. Acquiring life skills and building multi-faceted personalities prepare citizens holistically.

- Academy member

Academy review results

Impact

Scalability

Exceptional

High

Moderate

Limited

Insufficient

Exceptional

High

Moderate

Limited

Insufficient

Media

Experience.Work Launches to Revolutionize Profession-Based Learning Experiences for High Schoolers https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-student-assistance-and-caps-network-launch-experiencework-platform-to-revolutionize-and-increase-access-to-impactful-profession-based-learning-experiences-for-high-schoolers-302350824.html

Profession-Based Movement and The State of Ecosystem in 2022

National CAPS Network Promotes Real World Learning

How the CAPS Network is Transforming Career Readiness

Implementation steps

Profession-Based Learning

The first core value of CAPS - connect professionals and community members directly into the learning process, starting with the design of course experiences, continuing with authentic project delivery as the curriculum, and including a post-year debrief and recalibration.

Professional Skills Development

Establish the importance of professional, durable skills with students (as opposed to simply the "hard skills"). Connect students with direct exercises to practice skills such as verbal communication, written communication, time management, project management, and leadership. Expose students to these skill sets in natural environments so they can also learn organically and build confidence.

Self Discovery and Exploration

Provide students the space and time to truly learn who they are. This includes a strengths inventory, as well as what students like and don't like to do. Once students understand more about their strengths and work styles, students should be deployed as young professionals to see what the world has to offer them. This accelerates the process of "knowing thyself" through deployment to the real world.

Entrepreneurial Mindset

All students should learn how to iteratively explore solutions to challenging problems and situations using approaches such as Lean Startup or Design Thinking. In this model, failure is positioned as a quick way to learn and pivot as opposed to an act to punish. The CAPS model views entrepreneurship as a mindset and not simply the act of starting a business or creating a product. Professionals in any industry benefit from an entrepreneurial mindset.

Responsiveness

CAPS envisions a new style of school, one that moves at the speed of innovation and meets students and industry partners where they are. Building a responsive classroom or school requires agility, where educators are open to receiving blunt, real-time feedback on the relevance of their curriculum and experiences. The CAPS teacher embraces rapid prototyping of their instructional design and delivery. This ensures a world-class experience unparalleled by the traditional classroom.