Tag Archives: Getting Smart

By: Nick Gross Trying to build future readiness and prepare kids for the workforce is nothing new. Traditionally, educators have taken an approach that looks something like this: First, they present students with existing careers. Next, they narrow the focus by matching existing student strengths with current careers, and then building new strengths based onContinue reading “When Preparing Kids for Their Future, Should We Lead with the Destination?”

This is the second of a two-part series on ASU’s Universal Learner Courses. In Part 1, we introduced Arizona State University’s Universal Learner Courses (ULCs) offered through the Accelerate ASU program, in addition to learning how college in the high school can help with closing the opportunity gap by making college-level courses available to every highContinue reading “How High Schools Can Successfully Accelerate College Pathways”

NAF, a national nonprofit that began in 1980, brings education, business, and community leaders together to help students become college, career, and future ready. NAF takes a three-prong approach: industry-focused curriculum, work-based learning and real-world industry connections; all of these together help students visualize and create their future. NAF is not extra, it is totallyContinue reading “Communities Develop Their Future Workforce Through NAF Academies”

By: Matthew Leader One of the things I most appreciate about working at High Tech High (HTH) is that, in addition to teaching middle and high school students throughout my tenure, I’ve been able to help other teachers incorporate project-based learning (PBL) into their own practice. PBL is an integral part of our approach to teachingContinue reading “From Designing Project-Based Learning to Designing Professional Development”

A few years ago, Dr. Jal Mehta, Harvard GSE, and Dr. Sarah Fine, High Tech High GSE went In Search of Deeper Learning. They didn’t find much, at least not at scale in big systems. They did find bright spots but it was usually individual teachers doing cool things often around the edges of big systems and inContinue reading “Inviting Learners into Work That Matters”

The ASU+GSV Summit last week was bigger and better than ever. The premier innovations-in-learning conference launched in 2010 in a crowded admin building on the ASU campus. It graduated to the Grand Hyatt on the San Diego waterfront where 7,000 edleaders, innovators, and investors gathered.  In addition to great keynotes and valuable sessions, ASU+GSV hasContinue reading “High Impact Startups Spotted at ASU+GSV”

Background of Wellness for Educators  On any given day articles related to teacher burnout, retention of educators, and staff dissatisfaction are overflowing on any media outlet. Rarely are solutions shared or silver linings highlighted, which is why the online Equity for Wellness Summit is essential. Over the course of three days, teachers, administrators, researchers, andContinue reading “Empowering Educators: The Equity for Wellness Summit”

This is the first of a two-part series on ASU’s Universal Learner Courses. The concept of students taking college classes while still enrolled in high school has been around for over 50 years. The benefits of dual enrollment, or concurrent enrollment, are evident with higher rates of high school graduation, college enrollment, and college completion. Dual enrollmentContinue reading “Closing the Opportunity Gap with Access to College-Level Courses for Every High School Learner”

In eighth grade, I was asked to do a research project. It could be anything, but it needed to result in some artifact of learning. At the time, I was an aspiring songwriter and I dabbled with the idea of writing a song from the perspective of a character in some eighth-grade required reading. ThisContinue reading “An Unexpected Pathway: How Life’s Design For Life Changed Mine”

Difference-making, social innovation, social entrepreneurship – there’s a thread that unites these various themes. They are purpose-driven. As we look at career pathways for students we might do more to support students to find meaningful work. Data suggests young people care about having jobs that make an impact. They want to do something that contributesContinue reading “Pathways With a Purpose: Supporting Students in Revealing Meaning”