This document explains Maryland's practical approach to developing student activities designed to facilitate high school students' transition to postsecondary education and/or the workplace. The document begins with an overview of Maryland's Career Connections initiative, which prepares for college and careers through the following: hands-on learning in classrooms, workplaces, and community service; instruction in academic and technical skills; support from adult mentors; and strong links between high schools and postsecondary institutions. The remainder of the document is a guide to implementing the practical approach to developing student activities. Included in the guide are the following items: presentation outline; copy of the National School-to-Work Web site; definitions of work-based learning activities; table detailing the processes used to develop various types of work-based learning activities (including worksheets, employer contact forms, activity sheets, evaluation forms); description of paid and unpaid work-based learning activities and contents of the activity packets used to conduct the activities; description of the program's career exploration field trip and pertinent forms and learning activities; and sample activity packets for a work-based learning program at a newspaper's print shop and preapprenticeship program as an electrician's helper. (MN)