Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has been a popular topic and some might even say an education buzzword, but many educators still don’t see the need for AI in their specific classrooms. We’re debunking common myths or roadblocks and giving every K-12 teacher, regardless of subject area or grade level, the top five reasons as to why AI should be on your radar! Myth 1 It’s true, some components of AI do include robots, but it’s not always what people traditionally envision when they think of robots taking over the world in science fiction movies. And in fact, robotics are just one facet of AI, and likely not the one that you encounter regularly. AI is around us in all we do, and its footprint is growing. If you use a digital assistant like Alexa or Siri, you are encountering AI. If you rely on product recommendations from your favorite shopping sites or engage with people on social media, you’re encountering AI. AI supports so many of the things we do on a regular basis and helps experts in many fields do their jobs better and more efficiently often with more accuracy. Myth 2 AI is largely developed by tech companies, but it’s role in other industries evolves on a daily basis. Marketing professionals use AI and automation to send the right messaging to the right audiences. Finance workers use AI to analyze risk and improve decision making. Meteorologists use AI tools to make better weather predictions, which can lead to life-saving information for communities in terms of weather disasters. Experts believe that 100% of jobs will be impacted by AI in the next decade, and by making sure our students are taught foundational skills and content around AI, we are preparing them for a bright future.  Myth 3 While the technical content of AI is complicated, all teachers are finding ways to incorporate AI content into their teaching and lesson planning. Whether they use AI tools to show students the power of machine learning, discuss ethics and bias in AI as a way to ignite conversation around the role of tech companies in an inclusive society, or use AI-focused articles and stories to support reading comprehension, all teachers can incorporate AI into their instructional goals.  Myth 4 While AI technology evolves every day, AI is currently around us in all we do. Consider this—what would life be like if you would have ignored the internet 25 years ago or completely avoided other tech trends such as social media, smart phones, Chromebooks, iPads, etc.? AI is not just the future, it’s our here and now and students engage with AI every day. Myth 5 As teachers, there are so many responsibilities and requirements, and the list never seems to dissipate. Between rigorous standards, distance learning, diversity and inclusion, growth mindset, social emotional learning, PLCs, and the numerous other goals you or your school have outlined, adding one more thing is never easy. But what if embracing AI wasn’t just “one more thing” to do? What if AI can help support the other initiatives you need to focus on by enhancing your instruction and opening your students up to new ideas and opportunities at the same time?  At MindSpark, we’ve partnered with IBM to offer IBM AI Education , a series of nine webinars around AI for all K-12 teachers. The free webinars will guide educators through AI’s foundational concepts and K-12 classroom connections, with topics including introduction to AI, natural language processing, ethics, diversity, robotics, and more. Learn more  about AI in education or explore our OnDemand courses in Responsible AI (RAI) and Applied AI (AAI) .

This month I had the privilege of talking with our first IBM AI Foundations for Educators badge earner, Ezra Barany, a Physics teacher, though he may sometimes claim otherwise, at Leadership Public School in Hayward, California. His passion for preparing students for the modern workforce we live in and for exposing them to the tools they need to be successful is inspiring. Ezra champions the idea that by not preparing students for jobs that will change due to AI, we are preparing them for failure. Take a look at his journey, his fierce ideals on AI’s role in society, and his palpable energy for doing what is right for his students. Ezra Barany, Physics teacher at Leadership Public School Q: Tell us about your current role. A: I either teach Underwater Basket Burning or Physics, not sure which. I teach at Leadership Public School in Hayward. My victims of inspiration are 11th graders. My Physics motto is, "I have a particular set of skills. Stay curious. Or I will find you. And I will inspire you." Q: Why did you start AI implementation within your classroom? A: My concern is the future. With the increasing need for entrepreneurs, I hope to include "Preparation for future success" as a value. I feel that we are getting to a point when jobs will change. Just like there are no more horse-carriage drivers, but there are Lyft and Uber drivers, there will soon be no more Lyft and Uber drivers since self-driving cars will likely be the norm by the time our students are adults. With the onset of housing being produced by 3D printers within a day or things like clothing, kitchenware, and furniture can also be 3D printed at an affordable cost, careers will change.  What jobs will be available? What career positions will be created and will be in demand when other careers will be replaced by AI and robotics?   Q: How do you address teachers who don't feel AI is important? A: Get used to telling your students at graduation who have prepared to be managers, technicians, dispatchers, hearing officers, personal finance advisors, pilots, computer programmers, economists, investigators, and other jobs likely to be replaced by AI: "Congratulations! Sucks to be you!" In the future, there will be a bigger need for workers with the skills of creativity, critical thinking, ethical awareness, empathy, and other skills that AI cannot perfect anytime soon. There will be a bigger demand for entrepreneurs and designers and world-problem solvers. I want our students to know how to fill those shoes.  Q: How would a teacher incorporate AI content into the classroom? A: Step 1: Consider the skills that humans can improve upon, ones that AI will struggle with accomplishing for a long time. These skills include empathy, creativity, critical thinking, and ethics. Step 2: Find the aspects of your curriculum that require these human skills, and emphasize those skills in that curriculum. Step 3: Find the skill sets of your curriculum that will likely be replaced by AI, and challenge the students to figure out how AI might replace those skill sets. Step 4: Eat chocolate and say, "Ha, ha! Robots can't taste how good this is!" Q: What was the biggest takeaway from the IBM AI Education webinars? A: The more we rely on AI in the justice system, in banking, and in the everyday workplace, the more susceptible we are to the bias that is programmed into the AI. By including diversity in AI design, there is a reduced risk of implementing bias. Fortunately, businesses typically perform better financially when the workplace is filled with people of different cultures and backgrounds, so there is also a financial benefit to incorporating diversity. To me, this suggests the advancement of diversity in AI design is inevitable. Ultimately, it means humanity is not doomed by the approaching increase of AI technology, and we can all get back to learning Underwater Basket Burning without the fear of being harvested by robots.   Hopefully Ezra’s journey inspires you to think about your students’ career paths and how you can incorporate AI foundations into your content to prepare them for a future that will undoubtedly be impacted even more by this technology. MindSpark Learning, a leader in professional development for educators, has partnered with IBM to bring educators in North America IBM AI Education, an immersive, interactive professional learning suite of online and in-person experiences crafted by and for educators to guide you through AI’s foundational concepts and K-12 classroom connections.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is such a hot topic for educators these days, and one that all educators in all subject or grade levels can approach, but many are on the fence on whether it’s something with which they want to engage. AI is part of students’ everyday lives, and their interest and passion for the technology continues to grow, and educators who are embracing this movement are realizing that it’s a critical part of preparing students for a modern workforce. I sat down with April DeGennaro, teacher at Peeples Elementary School in Peachtree City, Georgia this month to discuss why as an elementary school teacher, she has chosen to embrace AI for her own learning and that of her students. April DeGennaro, teacher at Peeples Elementary School Q: Why did you start AI implementation within your school or classroom? A: Being involved in CODE.org and many NSF-funded projects in the past, I was asked to join a project focused on computational thinking. During this project, several of the researchers in that group asked me to join another project which was focused on artificial intelligence in schools. I love learning and I believe that it is important for an older teacher like me to stay on top of the new trends so I was eager and interested to begin learning something new.  Q: Why is AI a topic that elementary school educators need to care about? A: AI is an increasingly present part of our everyday lives and we need to make sure our littlest students grow up with AI, not ignorant of AI. Within minutes of being born, a child has their first interaction with AI—the cell phone taking their picture uses object recognition to focus on that new baby. Once you know this, you begin to think about all the ways you interact with AI technology already, sometimes without even recognizing it.   Elementary schools are heavily focused on integration of technology because that is what the real world is like and most of that technology includes AI features. Examples include spam filters, software that sets student practice levels based on performance, and even autofill on search boxes. Students care about AI because it is relevant to their lives, and so educators need to care about what kids care about. Being ignorant to this technology isn't okay for adults or students. Q: How do you address teachers who don't feel AI is important? A: Most teachers are so swamped with the curriculum demands of what they are required to teach based on end-of-grade testing that AI is like all of the other interesting things that  could  be taught. I think some teachers see me as a rebel. It is a bit rebellious to be focused on something outside of that narrow band of standards-assessed content. I don't think teachers are putting a value judgement on the importance of AI, they are just not interested in putting the time and energy into delving into it if they already meet their standards in other ways. In reality, I still teach the content standards, I just make connections to or use AI as the topic. I find kids are engaged and excited to learn about AI because it is new and not overtaught. AI is motivating because it is relevant and current. AI is also easily connected to almost every curriculum area. Q: How would an elementary teacher incorporate AI content into the classroom? A: There are so many interesting current events about AI nearly every day. These can get students writing and reading and reaching high-level thinking skills through evaluation and critical analysis. Math assignments can tie to the math in AI—it surely gives them examples of how math is used in daily life! For example, with autofill, we learn about probability and with representation we talk about coordinates for space and movement. Recently I selected a read aloud about AI which was an intentional choice and the kids loved it! I am also a big proponent of PBL and passion projects. I ask kids how could AI help solve problems. The ways to use AI and AI examples in curriculum are endless. Kids just love being asked to think. Q: What's been the biggest benefit of having an AI focus within your classroom? A: Seeing the insights and enthusiasm kids have for the future and how AI is controllable with computer science skills. I see how excited they are to see growth and change in technology as it improves and provides more AI agents that can do more things. I love to see the light in a child's eyes when the magic in AI is revealed to be something they can control, they can talk about, they can debate, and ultimately, they can change! I love the shared excitement of learning with my kids. As I learn they learn and that is a magical way to experience school as a teacher or a student. Q: What advice would you give a school or teacher just starting out on their AI journey? A: Find cool things that interest you and share them with your students. Share your passion. What do you find interesting? I want to teach broad exposure. The main things I stress are: 1) AI is not magic; and 2) AI is not able to take over the world...it is a narrow ability to recognize sound, or objects, or other inputs. It can't interpret, extrapolate, or think like a human, and I don't believe it ever will.   Q: Where did your AI learning and experience originate from?  A: I love to learn and once someone "removed the veil" of how AI was everywhere I was hooked on learning more, finding out different uses, and sharing those with my friends at school. AI is now my new passion in learning and I love to share my passion with my kiddos. I hope that April’s journey inspires all educators to embrace AI for their own learning, and for their students!

Research from McKinsey Global Institute  reports a staggering projection: AI has the potential to boost the GDP in the U.S. by $13 trillion by 2030. This forecast issues a compelling call to educators about the imperative need to equip the next generation for a career landscape fundamentally shaped by artificial intelligence. There's a collective concern that our students might not be adequately equipped to navigate this AI-driven world. Yet, within this concern lies an opportunity—for education to bridge the gap and support students for the challenges and opportunities ahead. AI Changing the Workforce  AI is set to revolutionize how we work across diverse industries. It contributes to streamlining processes, enhancing efficiency, and improving safety, allowing human workers to delve into their innate strengths—innovation, creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. Free from routine tasks, individuals can focus on what truly defines their expertise—the ability to envision, create, and provide the human touch that drives progress across industries. Recent insights from The World Economic Forum   highlight the essential skills demanded in the future: analytical thinking, creativity, and flexibility. Coupled with the rising prominence of data, artificial intelligence, content creation, and cloud computing, these skills define the top emerging professions. Integrating AI into education is necessary to prepare our students for this AI-driven future. Beyond mere skill acquisition, AI education nurtures critical thinking, problem-solving, and technological literacy—helping students to navigate and shape the AI landscape rather than merely adapt to it. These skills are essential for the demands of the future workforce. MindSpark’s Role: Supporting Educators  MindSpark stands at the forefront of this educational transformation, dedicated to supporting educators integrating AI into education. By equipping educators with tools and resources, classrooms can evolve into hubs of innovation and critical thinking, preparing students for a future brimming with possibilities. We invite educators to explore the vast potential of AI education with MindSpark's Responsible AI (RAI) OnDemand course—an introductory learning experience designed to guide you in using and implementing AI responsibly in the classroom. Together, let's prepare our students not just for a future driven by AI, but for a future where they thrive as creators, innovators, and leaders.

When it comes to K-12 education in the U.S., there is a significant shortage of qualified STEM and computer science (CS) teachers available to the students who will need to be prepared in these fields in the future workforce. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , there will be 1.4 million open computing and STEM jobs by 2020 but only 400,000 CS and STEM graduates with the skills to fill them. More importantly, only 1 in 9 Computer Science Teachers Association ( CSTA ) members have actually taken a college course in CS, and only 5-7% have a degree or certificate in STEM or CS. There are also, on average, 5,000 jobs available to CS and STEM teachers each year because of an attrition rate of 15% in the first five years of a CS and STEM educator’s career. How are students supposed to be aptly prepared for these careers, that will dominate the landscape of the future workforce, when their teachers aren’t prepared themselves? Fortunately, higher ed entities, along with established K-12 initiatives, are starting to play a pivotal role in fixing the growing shortage of qualified U.S. STEM and CS teachers. For example, the UTeach program  at the University of Texas in Austin helps students pursuing degrees in math and science also secure teacher certification for these areas of focus. However, there is always more to do. Without highly-qualified STEM and CS teachers available to every school and classroom, the future of our economy will suffer. What more can be done? Programs Need to Engage Current Educators It’s Not Enough to Solely Reach Prospective Educators The UTeach program is inspiring; however, it operates under the premise that students who are pursuing STEM and CS majors will also be interested in becoming educators in these areas of focus when they graduate. Unfortunately, the incentives for teachers in these fields of study are often outweighed by the quality of jobs available to them outside education. HOW OUR STEMPATH PROGRAM CAN HELP While job incentives in education are a bigger problem that needs to be addressed, and while the certification at UTeach is an incredible initiative, it’s time for higher ed programs to begin placing a greater importance on engaging current educators with more opportunities to continue growing in their profession. It’s important to grow programs that keep a continued influx of new teachers entering the field; however, it’s also imperative to continue to support and provide current teachers with opportunities and resources that afford them the chance to reach new heights. Industry Must Work With Higher Ed STEM & CS Programs Need to Incorporate Authentic Experiences Having programs put in place that can train and certify educators in STEM and CS is only the beginning. The next step is to ensure that these programs are applicable and relevant to the modern workforce, and what students will be encountering in their future careers. In order for this to be accomplished, educators in programs like these need to have the opportunity to interact with industry experts in STEM and CS, so they can experience first-hand the types of careers students will encounter when they leave the classroom. Educators prepared with the type of training and real-world work experience found in leading industries are more likely to engage students interested in these fields. Professional Learning Experiences Play Key Role Students Need Well-Prepared Teachers A study addressing teacher preparation in STEM areas -- Teacher Preparation: One Key to Unlocking the Gate to STEM Literacy  -- found “that only a thorough familiarity with STEM content will enable a teacher to effectively engage a class of middle or high school students in STEM learning.” While the authentic experiences from industry prepare educators in programs with the real-world knowledge they need, there is an understated value in receiving training from facilitators who are well-versed in how these practices can be implemented in K-12 classrooms. Highly prepared teachers are the key to STEM/CS sustainability and the missing link between students and industry. If the program takes a holistic approach to developing curriculum and experiential learning, it’s more likely that the students, whom these educators will be teaching, will gain relevant knowledge that will directly impact how they operate in their work environments. This is why professional learning is such an imperative part of the program. While industry can associate real-world STEM/CS experiences to the higher ed program/certificate, it’s ultimately professional learning that supports successful classroom implementability. Takeaway Clearly there is not only a shortage of qualified STEM and CS teachers, but also a shortage of students who are entering the workforce prepared with the skills to take jobs in these fields. Educators continue to be our greatest lever in preparing students for the modern workforce, and unless they are adequately equipped with the training they need to engage students in STEM and CS, the future of our economy is likely to suffer. Fortunately, organizations and higher education are starting to take the steps necessary to ensuring educators have the access they need to become dynamic supporters of STEM/CS education in K-12 schools and classrooms. LEARN HOW STEMPATH CAN HELP YOU

The Computer Science Education Week ( @CSEdWeek ) is coming up at the beginning of December -- from the 4th - 10th to be exact -- and with it, the largest learning event in history from Code.org : #HourOfCode . As a proud regional partner  of Code.org , we at MindSpark Learning are excited to share some resources, activities and compelling research that will help you prepare for Computer Science Education Week, and your own Hour of Code . First of all, let’s get into why computer science is important. Why is Computer Science Important? An Industry That is Growing Exponentially in the U.S. Did you know ? The average annual salary for computing occupations in Colorado (CO) is $98,597. With the 13,517 computing jobs open in CO, there is $1,332,735,649 in current available salary for computing jobs. Nationwide, there are 490,432 computing occupations available, and $48,355,123,904 in available salary to those receiving the same average annual salary as those in CO. In CO alone, there is over a billion dollars in available salary to those who choose a computing occupation, and nationwide there is over $48 billion in available salaries for those averaging the same annual salary as CO. In essence, computer science will play a large role in future careers of students as it is already the number 1 source of all new wages in the U.S.; yet, fewer than half of U.S. schools offer any computer science courses and only 8% of STEM graduates study it. It’s not just about the numbers either. Students who study computer science are also gaining necessary skills like: Computational thinking An understanding of logic Critical thinking for problem-solving A general awareness of technology and its relevance to career readiness Make no mistake, computing is a part of virtually every career available, and in the future our students will encounter a continued increase in the amount of jobs that demand, at the very least, a basic knowledge in computer science -- it already makes up two thirds of all projected new jobs in STEM fields. Compelling enough? The fact of the matter is, technology is already everywhere and its impact will only continue to evolve and become more relevant. It’s the future of our students, and they need to be prepared for those futures. Computer Science For All Ages and Levels of Expertise Free Computer Science Curriculums: Fundamentals for Elementary Students, Discoveries for Middle School Students and the Principles for High School Students If you’re thinking to yourself “ there’s no way I can teach computer science in my class or bring this to my school because I don’t know anything about the subject ,” then you are not alone. In fact, most educators who teach the curriculums we’re going to recommend have never taught computer science before. You can also try the courses first to make sure they fit well with your current lesson plans and that you do some of the learning before taking it on with your students. You can decide which lessons to use, and intersperse them throughout the year, or just spend one day dedicated to computer science. If you’re an educator in an elementary school, check out these lessons for your students on Computer Science Fundamentals . The link has more information on implementation, and on courses built for specific grade levels. If you’re an educator in a middle school, then these lessons on Computer Science Discoveries  are a great way to take computer science awareness to the next level in your school or classroom. Click the link for more information on lessons built for specific areas of study. And, if you’re in a high school, you can check out these lessons for Computer Science Principles  that can even work for AP classes. The link has more information on courses that are meant to be applied to specific industry areas, and help students take the next step toward considering a computer science degree while in college. If you’re a K-12 principal, then you may want to look into all three and see what works best for your school, and your teachers. The point is, computer science is more accessible than you may think, and engaging your students with lessons on computer science is free and easy. You can prepare for Computer Science Education Week and your Hour Of Code today by bringing the lessons above to your school or classroom, at any level. What Are Some Apps, Activities And “Unplugged” Resources You Can Use? Leverage Students’ Penchant for Curiosity As computer science awareness continues to grow, so do the amount of resources, apps and activities associated with computer science. Major organizations like Google and Apple have taken on the initiative to engage their computer science audience. Some organizations have taken the robotics craze and melded it with computer science awareness to use robotics as a means to learning about computer science. There are also “unplugged” activities that can be used either in tandem with online activities, or on their own to engage students in computer science. There are also ways to increase awareness around computer science for girls, and you can even task families to take on computer science together, putting the initiative in the hands of those that are often marginalized as computer science grows in popularity. Let’s take a look: Google CS First   offers more free curriculum and activities for teachers, students and parents alike. Start the initiative, and engage the children in your life, with theme-based projects that transcend the traditional landscape of STEM computer science by exploring computer science in areas like art, sports and fashion, to name a few. Apple’s Everyone Can Code , is another great resource for teachers and parents who want to introduce their children to coding in a quick and easy way. There are varying levels and entry points, so coding and computer science can be as easy or as challenging as you want it to be. Check out some robotics resources like Sphero , Dash and Dot  and Ozobots  for varying ways to bring coding, computer science and robotics together. The robots offer not only an entertaining way to interact with computer science, but they also offer a relevant medium for the application of computer science. Each link above provides different robotics options, so explore them all to see what is likely the most suitable option for your learning environment. Osmo  is another great resource that can be used on iPads and iPhones to take computer science beyond the screen and make it a hands-on interactive experience that can be viewed on the screen. Code.org also has a great list of “unplugged” lessons  you can use in your learning environment whether you have computers or not. Girls Who Code  is a great way to reach the girls who may be interested in computer science but feel that interest in the subject is dominated by boys. Finally, check out Family Code Night  if you’re looking to get families involved in computer science at your school. These resources are just the tip of the iceberg, as more and more computer science initiatives, apps and activities crop up every day. As you’re preparing for Computer Science Education Week and your Hour of Code, consider utilizing some of these resources en route to authentic student discovery around the importance of computer science. Takeaway The necessity for computer science continues to grow in the U.S. and the awareness around it is starting to catch up; however, you can continue to focus on its importance by getting your students engaged with the lessons, activities, apps and resources in this blog. Furthermore, if you’re an educator or parent in Colorado, consider contributing to the Colorado standards around computer science by taking part in the Standards Review and Revision -- Public Feedback  that Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is opening to everyone; in other words, you can be part of creating the standards around computer science for Colorado students.

We thank Amanda Novak, a recent Education Accelerator alum, for her contribution as a guest blogger. Read her story below. “You'll learn to innovate” , they said. “ You'll grow in your leadership” , they said. “ You’ll elevate your future” , they said. These things were attractive when we signed up for the Education Accelerator (EA) with mindSpark Learning. But, what they didn't say was that this nine-month long experience would send me into an existential not-quite-crisis where I would question my leadership, challenge systems and status quo, jump into murky, unknown waters of mission development, engage in creative abrasion, disagree with my colleagues, and develop professionally in the most authentic way possible. The EA is not a fun three-hour professional development session where the trainers leave candy on the tables and eagerly strive for minimal participation. Don't get me wrong, we did get candy… And, banana splits, and snow cones, and caramel apples, and liquid nitrogen popcorn. We got the opportunity to pitch our school and the opportunity to authentically engage in critical reflection. We got “blow your mind” and “kick your ass” kinds of training – the kind of training that you don't check emails during because the truth about creative abrasion, creative resolution, and creative agility is just too real to ignore. We got to visit schools, observe innovation, and witness greatness. Then we got actual time to collaborate and apply this learning to our own problems of practice.  We got “blow your mind” and “kick your ass” kinds of training – the kind of training that you don't check emails during because the truth about creative abrasion, creative resolution, and creative agility is just too real to ignore. My team came into the EA with a plan, despite the vague and inconspicuous description of what an EA even is...an intentional and smart move, by the way. We pitched our school’s problem of practice with confidence and even an air of arrogance, and we might as well have written our blue print before we walked in the door. Like many other school leaders, we thought we knew it all. We thought we knew what our biggest problem was, and we thought we already had the tools to solve it. We thought an EA would just be critical and necessary space to do the work. And then the EA morphed into a living presence that knocked us down a notch and shed a bright light on who we are, who we say we are, who we think we are, and who we are to our stakeholders. We half-way expected to develop our Whole Child Program, but we never expected blow up our plan for our high school and genuinely level up. Creative abrasion keeps you conscious, helps you see past your own brain, and disrupts comfort zones and known scripts. Collective g enius teaches us that resolution must be catalytic. It must be transformative, scalable, endurable, and it makes the invisible visible. W e 've been hiding the sub-par reality of our high school for years. We have let the bar linger lower than it should, and we have “band-aided” it up like my daughter's sick baby doll. We had some really tough conversations during the EA (thank goodness for banana splits – a welcome form of consumable relief), but we agreed that we could no lon g er hide our deficits . “Make the invisible visible” , they said . “Have a bias toward action” , they said. We are seven months in. We have a new brand and marketing strategy (y ay, EA!). We have a clarified mission and our real journey is just beginning.  Oh, and “ don't forget to PLAY ”,  they said.  -Amanda Novak, Education Accelerator alum

It’s no secret -- implementing technology in your classroom is a great way to increase student engagement. Make no mistake, that is one of the greatest gifts of being human, right up there with breathing. This type of individuality is innate in each and every one of us; as such, we all inevitably have our own curiosities, quirks and needs, wants and desires. These apply across a wide array of areas in our lives, but one area where uniqueness plays a key role is how we learn, and what environment suits our learning the best. This is true for both adults and kids -- some of us learn best when blocked off from all distraction, whereas others learn better when working with others and some of us learn better visually as opposed to experientially. The point is, as distinctly unique individuals, your students each learn in personalized ways -- a topic we covered in our blog “ 5 Simple Personalized Learning Strategies For Your Classroom ” -- and may need to interact with your learning environment in different ways in order to get the most out of their learning. A good place to start when bringing a more personalized learning approach to your classroom is with classroom redesign. By involving your students in the process of creating a redesigned classroom you’re sure to maximize their engagement and ensure they get the most out of your teaching. 1.) Reimagine Classroom Seating Give Students The Flexibility To Sit, Stand, Work Alone, Work Together, Etc… Flexible seating has become a movement in education -- even though the idea itself has been around for quite some time, it’s starting to gain a lot more traction recently. The reasoning? It works to maximize student engagement, plain and simple.  Traditional seating simply does not work for a good amount of students, whereas flexible seating gives every student the opportunity to work in whatever setting works best for them. So, how do you bring flexible seating to your classroom? Start with the flexible part of it -- you need to have the versatility to offer your students many different options. Can they work standing up? Can they work on the floor? Can they work with one another? Can they work by themselves if they want to? These are some of the big questions that drive flexible seating. Consider designating different parts of your classroom for various learning objectives. For example, one area could be used for collaborative work, while another would be closed off for those students who would rather work by themselves. Provide an area for students to work while standing, and an area for them to sprawl out on the floor if they so desire. The point is, give them flexible options. Next, take into account the seating part of it. For standing areas, you obviously wouldn’t need seating, but for the floor, you may consider bean bag chairs -- or pillows -- so that students can roll to the floor if they want to. Collaborative spaces may need a table, and individual spaces need some seclusion. You can use existing furniture to create these spaces as well. For example, you could flip a table on its edge and create a fort where a student can work alone. Bottom line -- sometimes students don’t work best in the spaces where they think they will, so monitoring the seating arrangements will be key. However, it’s also important that each kid gets to try all the options after you implement flexible seating, so they can learn where they are most productive. Involving them in the process to begin with also ensure that students have a voice in how some of the flexible seating is arranged. 2.) Reimagine Classroom Wall Space Use Your Walls As Space For Kids To Ideate, Create And Collaborate What do your kids currently see on the walls of your classroom? Do you keep the same layout on your walls year in and year out? Do you use them for decoration more than you use them to showcase student learning? Can students interact with the walls in your classroom? Classroom walls can be some of the most powerful and impactful learning tools in your space. Using them properly can be difficult though. When the mind wanders or is curious, often times we start looking around us and pondering. Many times we look at the walls that surround us in search of answers. Imagine if you could leverage that curiosity or wandering to your advantage. By reimagining how you use your classroom walls, you can. What if while your students were working on a project they could just take to the wall and put some sticky note ideation on it, hashing out their ponderings and engaging their creativity?What if there were whiteboards, plexiglass and writable surfaces all around them that they could use whenever they saw fit? Empower and encourage your students to use the walls as a springboard for their ideation and a catalyst to their creativity and imagination. When the walls of your classroom become a canvas your students can use in their learning, you’re expanding the boundaries of their learning surface to be limitless, and thus encouraging a limitless imagination -- out-of-the-box thinking is more possible when the boundaries of the box don’t exist. Flexible seating is one step in creating a versatile classroom, leveraging wall space is another. Designate different sections of your classroom walls for various learning objectives and challenge the obsolete   bulletin board, letting your kids own the walls and move onto them with their own ideas. 3.) Reimagine The Heart Of Your Classroom Gather And Connect As An Entire Class We’ve all heard it -- challenge your role as the sage on the stage, and at the front of the classroom, and become the guide on the side instead. It’s an awesome concept, and it works when implemented correctly, but how do we implement it? Flexible seating is a good way to start because it allows you to create places to learn everywhere in your classroom, instead of making rows of desks that point to a focal point. With flexible seating, you’re eliminating any particular focal point and thereby designing a classroom where the heart of the classroom is the entirety of the room. However, flexible seating is just one step in the process, we must also be willing to relinquish control over the room, and become a part of the knowledge discovery, instead of leading it. Reimagining the heart of your classroom begins with learning areas that are diverse, and that span different areas of your room. However, you must also become a part of the room, instead of owning the center, or front, of it. That includes your desk as well. Consider moving your desk to a strategic area of the room -- in the back, or even out of the room completely -- in order to leverage this heart of the room strategy even further. Essentially, a podium is not the heart of your classroom. The heart is the collaboration that takes place between you and your students and the collaboration that takes place among them. 4.) Reimagine How You Use Your Classroom Supplies Create A Supply Headquarters That’s Accessible At Any Time Whether it’s smelly markers, crayons, pens, pencils, tablets, laptops, construction paper or Chromebooks, creating a headquarters for all your supplies that’s accessible at any time is another way to maximize student engagement. For one, it organizes the resources students can use to supplement their learning into one area. The accessibility also encourages students to use them when they need them, and for whatever purpose they deem necessary, instead of being directed by you when to use a certain resource for a specific project. Creating this space encourages students to think of how they use resources for projects differently. Instead of being directed to use resources, they are able to think critically about how a certain resource will benefit what they are working on, and become self-sufficient with how they supplement their learning. It leaves the power in your kids’ hands to decide how a certain learning objective should be completed, and teaches them to be eclectic with how they choose to interact with their learning. In other words, you’re challenging your students to own their learning, and decide on their own what resource they need for a project. You’re also allowing students to choose resources that work specifically for their style of learning, and create completed projects that are unique to them. 5.) Involve Your Kiddos In The Process Ideate, Create And Implement Your Redesigned Classroom Together What’s the best way to maximize student engagement with classroom setup ideas? Involve your students in the process of redesigning your classroom. Bring it up with them first and tell them you’re planning on making the classroom a bit different, and that you’d like their thoughts on the process. Obviously this will be a little different depending on what level of education you’re teaching at, but it’s possible at every level. The point is, you don’t want your students to walk in one day and see an entirely different classroom setup without first being aware of your intention to make changes. Ask your students what they enjoy learning about at home, and where at home they usually do that learning. Discuss with them what they think is missing from the walls of your classroom, or what else they’d like to see on the walls. Ask them each what they enjoy as hobbies on the side -- this is a good starting point for considering how certain students will use flexible seating and a supplies headquarters. Mostly, just encourage creativity and outside-of-the-box thinking and most importantly, make them aware that you’re redesigning the classroom for them, and that their input is key to the situation. Takeaway Redesigning your classroom can be difficult and time consuming, but it’s not impossible. The five strategies above are a great place to start, but your own ideation on the subject will be invaluable as well. At its core, classroom redesign is about one thing -- the fact that students are all unique, and need to be stimulated in different ways in order to get the most out of knowledge acquisition. We all seek access to knowledge in different ways, but the seeking mostly stems from the curiosity to discover. A versatile learning environment is the best way to diversify your students’ access to that discovery, while also empowering their curiosity and imagination.

By: Jescely Castillo I was unaware at the time but attending one of the nation’s first K-8 STEM schools would change the trajectory of my life. Before attending, I excelled in mathematics but struggled with behavioral challenges and lacked motivation. I frequently found myself involved in fights, bullying, and disruptions, accumulating suspensions and disciplinary charges. It would have been easy for others to dismiss me as a lost cause. However, everything changed when I encountered mentors and entered a school environment that was deeply committed to STEM education .   Discovering My Passion in STEM  Through Problem-Based Learning , I shifted from simply recognizing my talents in math, science, and engineering to developing a strong personal connection with career pathways. I began to see myself reflected in the career lenses we explored through projects, the guest panelists who shared their specialties, and the wide range of career options we were exposed to. These experiences shaped my identity as someone who belonged in STEM, and that sense of purpose carried me through my college journey.   The Power of Mentorship One individual who had a profound impact on my journey was Kellie Lauth, MindSpark’s CEO. Her kindness and support were instrumental—she invited me to speak at community events representing our student body, honored me with a school ambassador uniform, and en couraged me to mentor and tutor others. Kellie also introduced Problem-Based Learning at the K-8 and high school I attended, STEM Launch  and Northglenn High School STEM , which ignited my passion for STEM among many of my peers and inspired my deep involvement with the community.   Continuing My STEM Foundation In high school, I continued building on this foundation through advanced coursework, leadership roles, and hands-on projects. I pursued my passion for engineering by completing a four-course engineering elective program and studying up to Calculus III, earning college credits along the way. I also led fundraising efforts for events like Girls Only STEM Day , which gave young women the opportunity to connect with professional engineers and explore career options. One of the most impactful experiences was my senior capstone project—creating a tactile keyguard for students with disabilities. Collaborating with industry partners, my team designed and manufactured a communication tool that provided students with motor and visual impairments more independence, a moment that deeply solidified my belief in STEM’s ability to solve real-world challenges. Through my mentors and educators, I was offered an internship at MindSpark, where I further developed practical skills. I gained hands-on experience managing social media content, earned relevant certificates, and participated in professional development sessions. These experiences not only enhanced my career prospects but also allowed me to inspire educators and advocate for STEM education. A Successful Transition to Higher Education My experiences with MindSpark and STEM programs significantly prepared me for college, equipping me with the skills to engage confidently with professors, collaborate effectively in team projects, and communicate my work at a high level. I entered college ready to contribute meaningfully because I had already experienced real-world problem-solving, teamwork, and professional presentations during my time in these pr ograms. These experiences propelled me into college, where I became a first-generation mathematics and biomedical engineering graduate . During college, I served as a peer tutor at The Institute for Learning and Teaching at Colorado State University , pioneering tutoring services specifically supporting underrepresented students.  I also joined the Ram Handler team, caring for CAM the Ram, CSU’s live mascot. As the only Spanish-speaking handler, I had the privilege of connecting with first-generation families at community events, sharing CAM’s story, and fostering a sense of belonging for families like mine. These opportunities not only helped me refine my leadership and communication skills but also reinforced the importance of mentorship and community—values that continue to guide me today. The Impact of Educators Students like me often lack professional networks when they enter the workforce. For us, teachers are the most valuable advocates. Teachers know their students personally, understand their strengths, and are invested in their growth. They open doors that would otherwise remain closed. Even after my college graduation, I reached out to my mentors and K-12 teachers because I knew they had built networks that could connect me to opportunities I wouldn’t have found on my own. My teachers and mentors mobilized, offering guidance, recommendations, and introductions. Thanks to their encouragement and connections, I eventually landed interviews and secured a job with their recommendation. Their unwavering belief in me not only began my professional career but also reinforced the value of having educators who are deeply invested in their students’ long-term success. If every student had a teacher with strong industry connections, the doors to internships, mentorships, and career advancement would swing open, creating lasting opportunities. My Journey Today Today, as the Development and Design Specialist at MindSpark Learning, I leverage my lived experience to advocate for STEM education and mentor the next generation of learners. Programs like those at MindSpark  equip teachers with the tools they need to build these critical connections.   Investing in educators means ensuring that students—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—have access to the same opportunities that changed my life.

By: Rose Gaylen MindSpark supports industry partners in achieving their education CSR goals. We are positioned to support school systems in upskilling educators to build relevant, authentic learning experiences that prepare students to enter key industries while working to close the widening workforce skills gap.  Partnerships with MindSpark Learning have outcomes such as creating a robust and equitable workforce pipeline, and developing individuals who have relevant skill sets to enter an ever-changing workforce and who have the ability to adapt and succeed.  Here’s how MindSpark partnerships are impactful:  They expand pathways beyond traditional college prep courses to promote career-connected concepts throughout the entire learning journey.  They increase workforce readiness skills (in some cases by a margin of 25%), including critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability, better-equipping educators and students to enter a modern workforce.  They emphasize collaboration and community engagement, facilitating partnerships and giving educators and by extension, students, real-world experiences and mentorship opportunities.  Partners get to be involved in work that has value, meaning, and true impact, as described by this educator from Woodford County School District:   “The most valuable part of this experience was making connections with colleagues at different levels to create authentic learning experiences for our students. Our students are our future, and our role is to support, prepare, and grow all of them for their future life and career.”  In today's rapidly evolving job market, the disconnect between classroom learning and real-world workforce needs has become increasingly apparent. Nowhere is this gap more evident than in Kentucky, where severe worker shortages and low workforce participation rates highlight the urgent need for innovative educational solutions. Enter the groundbreaking partnership between KPMG and MindSpark Learning - a collaborative effort designed to bridge this divide by upskilling educators, engaging students, and aligning education with industry demands.  The Education Workforce Gap Education faces many challenges today, one of them being a disconnect between what students are learning and what skills they need beyond the classroom. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Kentucky is classified as “severe” on the Chamber’s Worker Shortage Index, with only 74 available workers for every 100 open jobs. Additionally, Kentucky ranks 48th out of the 50 states for both median household income and workforce participation.   KPMG and MindSpark worked together to tackle this problem. In our work, we served 6 school districts and 38 educators who impacted over 1000 students. After our work was finished, 94% agreed that the learning experience gave them the ability to establish new inclusive techniques to increase student access. 94% also agreed that they are more confident in their abilities because of their participation in the KPMG–MindSpark Learning-led professional development program. After our program, 100% of participants said that they now knew how to make learning innovative for their students and that they could confidently bridge between industry practices and their work in the classroom.  A partnership with MindSpark Learning means an improvement in career-connected pathways for students throughout an entire learning journey and an increase in workforce readiness skills through teacher upskilling. MindSpark Learning's approach has proven effective in addressing workforce readiness challenges across diverse communities from Los Angeles, CA to Huntsville, AL, Kentucky to Colorado, and even rural Montana. We adapt to local needs while maintaining a consistent focus on bridging the education workforce gap.  Lasting Impact: Benefits of Partnership  There’s no question of the impact you can have when you invest in education. With MindSpark that impact is measurable and sustainable.  Upskilled educators provide equitable learning opportunities that can narrow socioeconomic gaps. Healthy communities lead to a productive workforce, and a skilled workforce drives economic growth. Upskilled educators prepare students for tomorrow's jobs when those jobs and workforce needs are ever-changing.  Partner with us today and let’s make the changes we want to see in the world.   Explore how we can help you achieve your CSR goals. Contact dominique@mindspark.org  and let’s have a conversation about sustainable education solutions!

Demand for higher cognitive skills, such as creativity, critical thinking, decision making and complex information processing, is expected to grow by 19% in the United States and 14% in Europe by 2030, according to a recent report by McKinsey and Company . The education system, and specifically highly-qualified educators, continue to be the lever for developing these essential skills in students. However, without the alignment of our workforce, education and economic development systems, cultivating these essential skills becomes a siloed and futile endeavor. This is why MindSpark Learning is proud to be an affiliate of TalentFOUND , and support the growth of initiatives that bring these systems together in a concerted effort to help communities develop talent and find success, at all levels of the economic development spectrum. Shifting the Mindset in Communities Making Valuable Resources More Easily Accessible Unfortunately, a great challenge many students, job seekers, workers and businesses face in Colorado is that they do not know how to access -- or have trouble finding -- the resources they need in order to find success. That’s unacceptable. The lack of easily-found and qualified resources shouldn’t be the hindrance that keeps us from shifting the mindset in communities; overcoming this simple obstacle is one way to support communities in focusing on workforce development as an entrepreneurial venture - linking schools, educators and students to industry and economic development systems. When these resources, professional learning opportunities and support systems are all accessible in one place, it becomes significantly easier to lead a community-centered approach to education and workforce development. About TalentFOUND An Umbrella-Approach to Workforce Development TalentFOUND, an initiative led by more than 100 affiliates, is an umbrella that brings readily available resources and support programs together, to better serve students, educators, employers and industries in communities with the talent, training and support they need to find success. TalentFOUND is made up of three key components: The Brand:  The TalentFOUND brand is a unified entry point for individuals and employers to connect with the Colorado talent development network. The Gateway:  The online gateway at TalentFOUND.org  is where students, job seekers and employers can connect with the existing resources of the Colorado talent development network – driving more people to the right place to get the help that’s available to them. The Network: Workforce centers, industry associations, state agencies, school districts, businesses and nonprofits, like MindSpark Learning, came together to create TalentFOUND and continue to work to integrate efforts and strengthen the network. Takeaway MindSpark Learning is honored to be an affiliate of TalentFOUND , and help ensure students and educators have access to the kind of authentic problem-solving that’s predicated on the needs of businesses. When this happens, we can better support industry’s growing need for a more qualified and dynamic talent pipeline, and help education and workforce development systems become drivers of economic vitality.

It’s official. School has begun, and another school year is ahead of you. Let’s get real -- this is an exciting time of year for both you and your students. Many students return to school actually interested in doing homework (at first) and are ready to learn. You’re amped to deliver that learning and engage your students’ thirst for knowledge. It’s an exciting time of year, no doubt, but realistically it’s also a stressful time of year. No one ever said that teaching could be stress-free; in fact, it’s one of the reasons why we teach -- learning isn’t easy, and one of the great joys of being an educator is that you get to be a lifelong learner. Still, the stress of teaching and learning about your students can be tough, especially if we don’t take the time to develop strategies for kicking the school year off on the right foot. So, how can you kick off the greatest school year ever? Let’s get to it. Set The Textbooks Aside Take Time to Invest in Knowing Your Learners Knowing your learner is the foundational platform to everything in school; it’s the catalyst to instructional practice and the necessary movement behind bringing creativity and technology to your classroom. Maintaining a deep understanding of your students is one of the easiest ways to ensure that everything else in your learning environment happens smoothly. Instead of jumping straight into learning with textbooks, homework and in-class assignments, take some time to get to know your students at the beginning of the school year. This will make it easier for you to manage the way each individual student learns in your classroom and provide instruction geared to the inevitable uniqueness inherent therein. The following activities are a great place to start with knowing your learning; however, get creative and try some activities that may fit the needs of your particular classroom more appropriately. 1. Build a safe environment with team-building activities Providing a safe environment -- where students feel invited to engage in the learning and share their opinions -- is imperative to students’ confidence in their abilities and the way they interact with their peers. Activities that cultivate this environment can be as simple as prompting your students to get to know each other’s interests, hobbies, passions and aspirations on the first day of class or as comprehensive as developing a weekly or daily classroom meeting that focuses on creating deep relationships between you and your students. 2. Develop deep relationships with exercises that challenge students to trust you and each other These types of exercises build off of the team-building activities above, and challenge your students to trust each other in situations where they usually may not. Obviously, there are simple examples of these practices like trust falls, but you can also go deeper with trust exercises if you leverage the daily or weekly classroom meetings mentioned above. It takes time to cultivate relationships that are built on trust. Using your classroom as a safe environment where this sort of exploration is possible happens to be a proven strategy. For example, as your students grow more comfortable with each other, and you, you can start to implement deeper dives into trust exercises like eye-contact activities and asking students to be vulnerable with one another -- as long as they are comfortable and ready for such activities. 3. Have your students create “about me” posters and share who they are with others This is another simple strategy that’s proven to work. Most individuals in the world -- both students and adults -- want to share who they are with others, even if it makes some a little more nervous than others. You can encourage this sort of sharing by tasking your students to create “about me” posters at the beginning of the year that will be displayed on the walls of your classroom throughout the year. These posters generally consist of basic information like favorite colors, hobbies, likes and dislikes, favorite foods, etc… but you can also go deeper by asking your students to include how they learn best, and what they like to learn about the most. Prime Students’ Summer Brain for Learning Again Move Slowly Into School Routine with Active, Fun and Engaging Learning Your students generally don’t do much learning for school during the summer, no matter how many summer reading lists you hand out before school ends. They spend a lot of their time playing video games, adventuring outside, playing sports, contemplating who they are, chatting on social media and hanging out with their friends depending on how old they are, and you can bet that learning for school is not necessarily the highest item on their priority list. As such, it can be hard to get back into the routine of another school year, and that applies to both educators and students. Luckily, that’s something that can be leveraged as a strategy for easing back into learning and also creating a fun and engaging classroom environment. Let’s look at some ways to use that summer mindset to your advantage. 1. Use game-based learning to create an engaging classroom environment You can check out our blog on ten free resources for teachers  for some more information on game-based learning, and specifically Kahoot! ; essentially, using gamification in your learning environment is a potentially foolproof strategy for learning and engagement. You just need to be cognizant of possible distractions and also supplement game-based learning with other more traditional approaches. Nonetheless, board games, digital platforms for game-based learning and card games provide great opportunities for easing the summer brain into structured learning. 2. Ask your students to celebrate what they did/learned over the summer Learning doesn’t only have to be confined to school, and it shouldn’t be. Asking your students to talk about the life lessons they learned over the summer -- even if you don’t phrase the “lessons” they learned as such -- is a good way to get them thinking about how their learning in school translates to their life. You can connect the dots between lessons they learned last year and how they used it during summer, or just encourage free conversation about their summers. 3. Give your students the opportunity to create a lesson plan for one day Ask your students to consider what a perfect learning day would look like for them. Then consider adopting a variation of this lesson plan, or using the authentic one created by a particular student. You can implement this strategy anonymously to avoid having to use each suggested lesson plan (not all students will take this seriously, such is life). You could even try allowing a certain student to run the class for the day where their lesson plan was selected, empowering them to engage with their learning in a whole new way. The possibilities are pretty endless with this strategy, and you can definitely get creative with the way you choose to implement it. Give High Fives or Knuckles Every Day (Then Use Sanitizer) Maintaining A Positive Attitude with Your Students Is Pivotal We’re not kidding! Using your positivity and energy throughout the year to make students know that you’re invested in their learning, and in their lives, is an important and easy part of being a teacher. Give your students high fives or knuckles every day in the hallways, as they walk into your classroom or while you’re outside with them and you’ll definitely start to get props from the kids. This can even work in high schools, when students are a little more leery of fraternizing with adults -- it just has to be genuine. However, it’s probably more suitable to a K-8 environment, to be honest. Be sure to use that hand sanitizer afterward though because a lot of students can avoid kleenex and elbow sneezes, opting for the nose-slime-hand-wipe and achoo-into-the-palm instead. Positivity and energy go a long way with students, and will even help you stay afloat as the year progresses and teaching while managing your stress level becomes more difficult. Remember: You Got This! We hope you have a great start to your school year, and set your feet right for the best school year ever! Check out our other Resources page for more free tips & tricks.

By MindSpark Learning MindSpark is an organization that designs and delivers extraordinary learning experiences. We are a firm believer in Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and the way it supports both education and industry. The Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning describes Problem-Based Learning as a teaching method in which complex real-world problems are used as the vehicle to promote student learning of concepts and principles . This differs from the typical way of teaching which is comprised of a presentation of facts followed by a test for memory. The University of Illinois credits Problem-Based Learning for promoting the development of critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills. MindSpark understands the importance of how Problem-Based Learning teaches students  how to have an entrepreneurial mindset and contribute fully to a diverse, interconnected, and ever-changing world. It engages students, schools, and communities in authentic problem-solving. The teachers and school systems that have embraced a Problem-Based Learning approach spend their days working with students on projects that enable them to use their problem-solving skills, think outside the box, and get creative by applying the concepts they’ve learned. They present the problem first and support students as they figure out how to solve it. It is a way of teaching skills students will use in the future, based on collaboration and community. It is a way to answer the question that students have asked for centuries… when am I ever going to use this in real life? MindSpark's Elements of Problem-Based Learning: Learn more about MindSpark's approach to PBL here . Problem-based Learning goes a long way in working to solve society’s biggest challenges . In this system, there are customized professional development opportunities that use a foundation of innovation, equity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship working alongside community and industry partners. There is a gap in our educational system between skills taught and what is needed in the workplace. This is due to a disconnect between the educational system and various industries. By utilizing Problem-Based Learning, we can also use STEM principles to create viable solutions for real-world problems. STEM jobs are the future for our students. They are the jobs that will benefit the individual as well as the world. They are the jobs that will be in high demand , especially when it comes to creating change and looking for solutions to global warming, food scarcity, global conflict, and many other issues the world faces. STEM and Problem-Based Learning have been at the heart of everything we do at MindSpark Learning. Our core values, mindsets, and the way we approach our work both internally and externally are laden with the core components of Problem-Based Learning. We believe in failing fast and pivoting, making iterations on the fly, developing unique solutions to radical problems, having a “yes and” and a beginner’s mindset, and giving kids lofty problems to solve because we know what they can accomplish when they are allowed to get involved in a solution. In 2019, we began partnering with The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow program which is a STEM competition  that challenges secondary school students to solve community problems using STEM. We were blown away by the results. The problem-solving skills the students use are amazing and they really come up with terrific solutions to problems the world has. Being given the chance to get creative, work together and brainstorm brought out many ideas that can change the world. Ways Problem-Based Learning Benefits Both Education and Industry: Facilitates student learning through authentic, real-world problem-solving that aligns with standardized school requirements. Partners with industry leaders in the community to bring authentic learning experiences to school. Builds positive entrepreneurial identities. Fosters a growth mindset in students, teaching the importance of risk-taking, resilience, collaboration and stewardship. Cultivates a growth mindset in students and normalizes failure. Encourages collaboration through collective inquiry and reflection. Achieves improved outcomes and innovative solutions while building empathy. Fosters collaboration between industry and education, offering dynamic workforce development programs that leverage industry expertise and empower individuals with the skills needed to excel in their careers. Integrates sustainability challenges into educational curricula, empowering students to tackle real-world issues while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, providing a sense of ownership and responsibility towards building resilient communities. Taylor and Francis Online conducted a case study  about Problem-Based Learning. They determined that it is instrumental for developing skills that are important to being employable in the future . Skills such as working as a team, communicating effectively, being empathetic to others, using critical thinking to solve problems, being creative and flexible and open to ideas. These skills help students take their academic knowledge and apply it to future employment. They learn that education is lifelong, not something that ends when you get out of school. It fosters a love of learning that isn’t there through typical experiences. Problem-Based Learning makes a huge difference in the level of engagement and enjoyment the students get from their day. Problem-Based Learning Has Several Advantages Use of collaboration and experiential learning – students get to work together instead of alone and experience the failures as well as the wins as a team. This builds skillsets for the future where they learn to work together and cheer each other on. Creates opportunities and helps educators embrace unique perspectives from students who learn from different vantage points – there are so many ways students learn and this is a way to show them that there is no right or wrong way. It shows them they don’t have to conform to someone else’s way of learning. Interactive providing long term impacts on knowledge retention and application – because we all know that learning by doing is an excellent way to really experience the lesson.   Engaging – students get to talk to each other, brainstorm together, support each other and work as a team. Encourages risk-taking – students learn that to create change, you need to take risks.  Together, it becomes easier to do. Builds resilience – experiments will fail, and this builds resilience as students try again and learn from their mistakes. Teaches critical analysis, practical problem solving, teamwork and communication. Through innovative workforce development initiatives, MindSpark Learning strengthens community resilience by fostering partnerships between industry and education, empowering individuals to adapt to change, contribute to local economies and build sustainable communities. MindSpark holds Education Accelerators which are leadership programs dedicated to fostering organizational ingenuity within education systems. MindSpark’s aim is to guide participants, no matter what stage they are at, towards a much-improved state in a relatively short time, lasting typically 6-9 months. Our industry partners  play a pivotal role in building capacity and uplifting education systems. Our goal, together, is to reshape education so it contains passionate educators and students who are highly engaged . We know the v alue our teachers have in our children’s futures when it comes to learning. We understand the importance of having strong relationships with industry partners that can support our teachers in changing the lives of the students, resulting in changes to our world. Samsung, one of MindSpark’s partners, hosts a Teacher Academy . MindSpark’s role is to provide them with innovative and sustainable professional development designed as a dynamic learning environment to encourage exploration and experimentation. The reason for this is because we believe teachers are the creators of a brighter future for students. We love to empower them with the tools they need to make a difference in the lives of students. MindSpark unravels the status quo and breaks down the complexities facing our world’s courageous thinkers, creators and advocates. We solve for workforce, innovation, well-being and inclusion. Since 2017, MindSpark has impacted over 89,000 professionals and 2,000,000 students, built meaningful relationships with more than 750 industry and community partners, and served all 50 states and 88 countries bridging the most highly impacted to the leading-edge regions. Are you interested in becoming an industry or community partner? The more partners we have, the more change we can create together. If you are interested in learning more about what it would mean for you to support MindSpark, just click here  and fill out the form.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , over the next decade in the U.S., there will be significant changes in the workforce. These will be driven by accelerated advances in technology, education policy changes, and concerns about sustainability. One thing will remain the same though: the need for talented individuals who are ready to work and equipped with the right skills for the career. Problem-Based Learning is a great way to ensure that happens. Here at MindSpark, we plan to keep working with our educators, partners, and friends to increase the number of students in STEM programs, ensure they are getting the most from their educations, and that our teachers are just as excited and engaged as our students. That is how we will create lasting change.

Educators are the backbone of our society, shaping young minds and preparing the next generation for success. However, retaining high-quality teachers, especially in high-demand fields like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), has been an ongoing challenge. Many teachers leave the profession within their first few years, citing reasons such as lack of support, professional development opportunities, and career growth pathways. Enter the STEMpath program, a game-changer in the world of STEM education. This innovative graduate-level computer science certificate program not only equips educators with cutting-edge knowledge and skills but also provides them with a clear path to professional fulfillment and advancement. The numbers speak for themselves: a staggering 91.7% of STEMpath graduates choose to remain in the teaching profession. This remarkable retention rate is a testament to the program's ability to reignite passion, foster growth, and create a sense of empowerment among its participants. So, what sets STEMpath apart? 1. Relevant and Engaging Curriculum STEMpath's industry-driven coursework ensures that educators stay ahead of the curve, learning the latest techniques and technologies that employers value. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on projects and case studies, the program prepares teachers to bring real-world relevance into their classrooms, captivating students and igniting their curiosity. 2. Work-Based Learning Through Externships One of the standout features of STEMpath is its externship component, which provides educators with invaluable industry experience. Through partnerships with leading STEM companies and organizations, participants gain first-hand exposure to professional environments, building their skills and networks while gaining a deeper understanding of the career pathways available to their students. 3. Professional Learning and Career Advancement STEMpath recognizes that teacher retention is closely tied to opportunities for professional growth and development. The program offers a comprehensive learning experience that not only enhances subject matter expertise but also cultivates leadership, communication, and pedagogical skills. Graduates emerge as highly qualified and sought-after STEM educators, well-positioned for promotions, pay raises, and leadership roles within their schools and districts. 4. A Supportive Community of Peers Isolation and lack of collaboration can often contribute to teacher burnout. STEMpath fosters a strong sense of community among its participants, creating a network of like-minded educators from diverse grade levels and disciplines. This supportive environment encourages the exchange of ideas, best practices, and shared experiences, providing a valuable resource for personal and professional growth. By addressing the key factors that contribute to teacher attrition, STEMpath has successfully created a pathway to long-term career satisfaction and retention for STEM educators. As one graduate put it, "STEMpath reignited my passion for teaching and gave me the tools and confidence to truly inspire my students." In a world where STEM skills are increasingly vital, investing in programs like STEMpath is not just an investment in individual educators, but also an investment in the future of our workforce and the continued advancement of scientific and technological progress. If you're an educator seeking to reignite your passion, expand your knowledge, and unlock new career opportunities, explore the STEMpath program today. Join the ranks of highly motivated and dedicated STEM teachers who are making a lasting impact on their students and shaping education's future. Apply today: https://mindspark.embark.com/login/apply

Finding new ways to keep your classroom learning fresh and relevant can be difficult, as educators ourselves, we totally get it. Which is why we figured we’d let teachers know about some fun and useful resources they can use in their classrooms this coming school year, and to prepare for every coming school year. Whether you’re an educator in the preK-8 space, or empowering high-schoolers to be prepared to take the next step in their lives for when college applications come around, we have a list of resources to fit whatever need you have. Without further ado, let’s get started. 1.) Storybird Studio Storytelling is An Important Learning Tool Storybird Studio is suitable for all students and educators in the K-12 space, and is a widely used tool to help increase literacy and engage student’s passion for writing, reading and creating. Use professional pieces of artwork -- curated by Storybird Studio -- as a tool to get your learners to start writing, and be confident in their ability to create awesome stories with their own writing. Storytelling has long been the most influential way to learn and pass on knowledge, and Storybird Studio’s platform has taken the art of storytelling and made it into an engaging visual display to help reignite our passion for sharing stories with one another. 2.) Adobe Spark Create Amazing Animated Videos, Infographics and More Adobe Spark is being used across a wide array of businesses, but it’s use in the education space cannot be overstated. The platform allows educators and students alike to create amazing animated videos, web graphics and web stories with ease, and is a great way to introduce students to the world of creation available to them through Adobe. Whether you want to share a story with your students, and make it look awesome to spark their imagination, or whether you want to assign your students with the task of creating something beautiful of their own, Adobe Spark is a great tool for use in classrooms. 3.) Remind Organize School Communication On One Easy-to-Use Platform Learning can’t always be about finding the fun way to teach something, or learn something. A key facet of learning is organization, and Remind has one of the best tools to keep teachers, school leaders, students and parents informed. The platform uses an easy messaging tool that organizes to-dos, assignments, important school events and much more in one place, and that is accessible by everyone. Organization and communication between multiple school parties can often be overwhelming and difficult, but Remind makes it easy. 4.) CrashCourse Bring Fun and Instructive Videos to Your Curriculum CrashCourse is a YouTube channel created by John Green -- renowned author of The Fault in Our Stars -- and his brother Hank. It’s a fun way for older students to learn important topics ranging from history to psychology, and a great resource for teachers to use as a cursory piece in their assignments. Videos are generally 10-15 minutes long, and are organized on the YouTube page by subject. The individuals teaching in the videos use humor and animation to reach students, and each video is as informative as it is funny. 5.) Edublogs Start a Blog for Your School or Classroom If you’re looking to start a classroom blog and set all of your students to recording their thoughts, commenting on the news around them and sharing their opinions in a safe environment, then Edublogs is right up your alley. The blogging platform is powered by Wordpress and allows teachers to privately comment on the writing of students, monitor the topics discussed and engage with Edublogs’ community of educators and students for fresh ideas. There are also a ton of themes that students can use to design the look of their blog so it’s unique to them, encouraging their creativity in the representation of their blog and it’s writing. 6.) InspirED Find Amazing SEL Resources and Implement Them With Ease Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in schools is imperative to today’s current educational environment. School climate ultimately dictates almost everything else that happens at school, and if students don’t feel engaged with learning, cannot manage their stress or are struggling with self-esteem, then learning can be impossible. InspirED was created to help schools and classrooms be more aware of SEL as it relates to their students, and provides a bevy of resources to help make it more of a focus not only in schools, but in classrooms as well. 7.) Kahoot! Teach Your Students Important Lessons With Game-Based Learning Students of all ages learn well when it’s associated with gaming, it’s just the world we live in now, and Kahoot! is a particularly effective game-based learning program that puts the customization in your hands. Create your own learning games in just a few minutes, or use games from their extensive library. If you’re looking for a way to give your students a break every now and then when they’re in your classroom, but still keep learning as the focus, then Kahoot! is the perfect resource to bring to your classroom. 8.) Canva Design With Intention and Engage Your Students’ Creativity Do you have some aspiring graphic design artists in your classroom? Or maybe you manage the school newspaper and you need to create a stunning campaign announcing someone’s bid for school president? Whatever you need it for, Canva is an incredibly easy-to-use and intuitive graphic design platform, and is a great way for teachers and students to learn and create together. Create logos, infographics, presentations, posters and much much more with ease and efficiency. 9.) Quizlet Making Studying Easier for Your Students The final resource on our list takes the classic way of studying and brings it online. Students and teachers can create flashcards, study guides, notes and much more. If studying seems to be a problem for some of your students, or if you just want to make the access to important study materials easier, then Quizlet is a great resource for you. Takeaway That’s all we have for now. Hopefully these resources will be useful to you and your students, and a great way for you to keep your classroom fresh with new ideas. Thanks for stopping by!

This article was first published on Getting Smart When we look at the root of why, it becomes interesting. There’s an argument as to whether social-emotional learning (SEL) belongs in schools when educators often feel they don’t have the support or resources to focus on their own social-emotional well-being. Educators face a number of stressors – they work well beyond the school day and over breaks, pay for classroom materials out of pocket and are underpaid, considering the hours they dedicate to their craft. To say SEL doesn’t belong in schools is preposterous. After all, it is in pre-K, elementary through higher ed institutions where our children acquire knowledge, life skills and prepare for the workforce… or at least, it’s meant to be where this all takes place. To best prepare the future workforce, our students, we need to take the time to support educators to balance their own social-emotional wellness and work with school districts to create a nurturing, collaborative environment for both staff and students. Often times, this takes special resources to change mindsets. In order to change our mindset, we must start by making a shift in education values, a shift that brings SEL to the forefront and places it at the same level of importance as tangible academic goals, and standards-based results. The foundation for sound social-emotional support isn’t just a “nice to have” commodity – it’s becoming reality and providing hope for many across our nation. The movement for, and focus on, social-emotional wellness is inspiring more districts to offer SEL training and support to educators, who in turn, can better prepare students to thrive under adversity. What exactly does this look like? The best way to anticipate the potential issues educators might face in the classroom is by looking at what’s going on in the community. Identify the Community’s Pain Points to Customize SEL Tactics Every community has its own challenges. Some may be located in a food desert, while others may face high crime rates or drug use. For instance, a major challenge that is plaguing communities across the country is the Opioid Crisis. For instance, a major challenge that is plaguing communities across the country is the Opioid Crisis. According to the CDC, opioid use claims the lives of 224 Americans each day. On top of that, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network found that two-thirds of children in the country have experienced a traumatic event by the age of 16, whether they were a witness to violence or were directly assaulted. Each of these challenges creates stress that affects everyone in the community in some capacity. These numbers are proof that our communities desperately need social-emotional support. The best place to start, with the support of the community, is in the classroom. How can we ensure that educators and students receive enough support to be successful during the school year? By defining what SEL is and providing access to support, districts are able to create processes to better handle trauma. Understanding Stress and Trauma to Better Shape the Classroom Because not all stressors are inherently negative, the response to stress may vary. Responses can be classified in three different ways – positive, tolerable and toxic. If we expect students to achieve certain milestones or meet performance goals on standardized tests, academic leaders must be able to address the stressors and traumas they may face. Schools can prepare their staff and students to respond to stress in a productive, healthy way through the tactics learned in SEL training. On a basic level, SEL sessions explore ways educators can shape the classroom environment to better foster conversation, mindfulness and empathy. Being at the forefront of this shift to SEL, educators must understand the true biology of teaching and how teaching styles can shape the classroom. Between long hours, tight resources and little in the way of emotional support, educators face a number of stressors themselves. Once educators and their schools can identify community and school-related stressors or crises, they can work to alleviate them. It’s important to note that trauma impacts short-term — and long-term — emotional, psychological and neurobiological well-being. While alleviating trauma all together is not realistic, we can foster effective social and emotional management tools that can help educators and students alike, which include: Introducing effective stress management strategies to promote self-regulation skills that can serve to empower and promote resilience. Promoting mind-body interventions designed to increase self-awareness and decrease stress. Discussing the importance of developing a self-care plan to help prevent the effects of stress-based experiences and potential stress-based disorders. Cultivating a Classroom Environment to Promote Social, Emotional and Academic Learning To truly cultivate social and emotional wellness throughout a school, districts can learn how to intentionally design classroom and school-wide environments, routines and rituals that promote social and emotional health and well-being for all. Advocating for open communication and promoting stronger self-awareness and self-management are important parts of instilling change. Truly understanding consequences and discussing responsible decision-making in times of stress or trauma can lead to greater social awareness and enable adults and children to develop more positive relationship-building skills. Understanding how to create environmental conditions, routines and rituals that support these vital learning points ensures that educators and students are armed with the tools needed to face whatever challenges may be prevalent in their classrooms or communities. SEL should truly be a collaborative effort between the community and the school district, thus placing an emphasis on academic goals, as well as social and emotional learning. What SEL Brings to the School The benefits of SEL are proving how invaluable social and emotional learning is in the classroom. CASEL reported students who participated in SEL programs showed an 11%-point gain in academic achievement compared to students who did not participate in SEL programs. While some argue the cost to implement an SEL program or training for educators is costly, it’s wise to look at the long-term effects. Columbia University found that, on average, for every $1 invested in SEL programming, there is an $11 return. While there shouldn’t be a price on social and emotional wellness, it’s more cost effective to proactively address stress, trauma, and SEL in the classroom before achievement and funding take a turn for the worse. At MindSpark (mSL) we strive to take these actions and bring them to school districts around the U.S., we’ve already seen some inspiring outcomes. In particular, we’ve found that professional development is most effective when tailored to address challenges specific to school districts’ communities. educators report feeling better prepared to take on the school year.  They also report that they are more likely to: Contact potential partners in times of need Be better prepared to observe a noticeable impact on their students facing trauma Share the techniques they learned with colleagues Apply what they learned in their practice in the near future Educators come away from SEL training with a better understanding of how important self-care is in order to successfully do their jobs. Another idea we hope they take away is the importance of SEL for students, as they strive to help their classroom achieve more from their academic careers. Beyond the tangible changes these educators feel ready to implement, they also often report having more hope. Hope not just for themselves, but for their students and their futures. The mind shift to support academic, social and emotional learning has begun. Let’s unite together, as a community, to offer the resources educators need to curate a safe and healthy classroom environment, provide social and emotional support to everyone within our schools and foster continued academic achievements.

AI is changing lives and changing the modern workforce, and many of our students are unprepared. According to a recent study, 74% of data analysts, engineers and data scientists feel that AI and machine learning will be a “game changer” in the workforce, but the lack of talent, especially among educators qualified to teach in this area, remains a problem. While not every K-12 educator needs to become an expert in AI, it is a topic that engages students in authentic problem solving, is part of all of our daily lives and will continue to inform future jobs and opportunities, so integrating it into your curriculum would give your students exposure to this world-changing technology and how it can be used for social good to solve some of our world's greatest problems. Here are three tools that you can use at any level to introduce AI along with some simple ways to use them in the classroom, though we’re certain you’ll have plenty of ideas once you check these tools out! 01. Quick, Draw! Quick, Draw! Is a drawing game developed by some folks at Google to allow them to help developers train new neural networks. The concept is easy--you draw a simple image and the neural network uses big data that it has gathered from millions of other drawings to guess what you're drawing. The idea is that the machine is learning new patterns and similarities in drawings as it gathers more data. How to use Quick, Draw! in the Classroom Elementary: Have students pick one of their drawings and look at other users' examples of that same item. Have them compare/contrast images and find similar drawings. Middle: Have students screenshot one of their drawings and write a short story about the image, using details from the drawing. Secondary: Have students look at a complete data set of a drawing and create an analysis around how the neural network can recognize different styles of drawings as the same item. Use question prompts such as: Are there common features in most of the drawings? If so, what are they? Explore Quick, Draw! Here 02. Akinator Akinator is a game developed by French engineers that relies on an algorithm and machine learning. The game allows players to think of a character, real or fictional, and the Akinator asks yes/no questions until it is ready to guess the character. How to use Akinator in the Classroom Elementary: Pick a character from a story you are reading in the classroom and see if the Akinator guesses it correctly. Have students work together to respond to the questions. Host a classroom discussion with these prompts and more: Did the Akinator ask any unusual questions? Why do you think he asked those questions? What was something he did not ask that you thought he would? Were you surprised that he guessed your character? Middle/Secondary: Model the Akinator game with a common character that your students know. After the initial experiment, ask students to pick a character from a story you are reading or have read, but not a main character. Have your students research as much as possible about that character and then they can ask the Akinator to guess their new character. Host a classroom discussion with these prompts and more: Was anyone able to stump the Akinator? Were you surprised that the Akinator guessed your character correctly? Which questions surprised you most? Which character will you try next to stump the Akinator? Explore Akinator Here 03. Brainly Brainly is the world's largest social learning network, allowing students to ask and answer questions from classrooms around the world. Machine learning filters spam and uses algorithms to make sure all students are getting high-quality, age-appropriate, relevant content only. According to their CEO, Michal Borkowski, "Brainly has helped millions of students around the world get unstuck on tough homework questions through its collaborative community of diverse individuals, removing traditional boundaries on access to knowledge. Already over 80% of users credit Brainly for expanding their knowledge base, heightening their curiosity, and inspiring them to embrace challenges." How to use Brainly in the Classroom Elementary: Have students develop questions about a current theme or topic. Encourage them to ask the questions they really want to learn about since they have to use their “points” to ask questions. Middle: Have students complete Brainly challenges on topics related to current or previous units of study to earn additional points. Review their answers to check for understanding. Secondary: Have students identify areas where they are experts and encourage them to answer questions from other students. Assign a number of questions to answer or an amount of points to earn. Explore Brainly Here Ready for more? Join our free webinar series, available both live and on demand, to learn more about incorporating AI in the classroom. Attendees receive a toolkit of resources and plenty of additional examples that are transferable to any K-12 classroom. Learn more. You may also like... Our free Online Toolkit with more info, Spotlight Training Courses and Coffee Chats for educators and athletic coaches transitioning to remote work, online PD opportunities, tips and activities for parents and family members at home with their kid(s), and more!

We know that leadership matters - it’s the backbone of any school and all districts. As principals and school leaders, we are not unfamiliar with uncertainty. We’ve built our careers on balancing unknowns as teaching and learning is not one-size-fits-all, nor do students all prescribe to it the same way. When I was principal of a K-8 STEM title school, our daily mantra was, “fail fast and pivot.” Each day brought new surprises and opportunities to learn a great deal about not only who I was as a leader but as a human being. When I first thought about the new challenges schools are facing amid the COVID-19 crisis and our role in supporting them, my first reaction was, “it will be okay, we were built for this.” Being “built for this” does not imply that we had a coronavirus pandemic plan in our back pocket nor could we dust off a manual on how to respond during this time. It does imply that the mindsets and strong culture we have cultivated among our teams, staff and even community will be our greatest asset. The new normal has brought about so many questions and so much uncertainty. How will principals continue to develop and support their educators and provide clear communication and timely updates? How will principals be supported as they navigate everything from online learning to food scarcity in some communities? Now, perhaps more than ever, the galvanizing of human and professional capital to solve problems will be our greatest investment. While the disruption is real, the education industry can look to strong industry models for inspiration to define their pillars on how to move forward. Take a Page from Industry’s Remote Communications Industry has a long history of telecommuting. Many companies across a variety of industries have defined platforms for collaboration and communication. What can we learn from them? We can benefit from the plethora of existing collaboration tools. We’ve seen educators take to Zoom or Google for question and answer sessions or Schoology to push their content and units. We’ve heard about educators hosting Netflix viewing parties online to discuss documentaries or elementary educators posting videos demonstrating the signs of spring. As we all scramble for how to connect our students and communities, we also cannot lose sight of how we connect our colleagues and teams together to ensure professional support and learning is not halted. Whatever the platform to keep learning moving forward, we also cannot lose sight of the importance of connecting people. The opportunities for distance learning have been made slightly easier with companies stepping up to offer steep discounts or free limited-time access to content for parents, educators and students alike, but just as we are very diligent about vetting curricular resources, the need to be “picky” and well-researched in what tools and resources are best is crucial. With the abundance of information to sift through, deciding on what is noise and what is important is key. It is also vital to assess resources into near-term and long-term categories. What do I (as a school leader) need right now-what will serve me best as I triage AND what do I need over the next several months? Embrace Entrepreneurial Models For many school leaders, shifting to a project management mindset will be incredibly helpful. I have said for a long time that education cannot and should not do it alone. Partnerships are paramount and intersecting education and industry to support each other is a must in this new paradigm of learning, absent of a physical school structure. Keeping solutions simple and scalable is key. During times of uncertainty, the path forward is often not linear, it can be messy. Start-ups are masterful at asking “how” questions to source viable solutions. Coupling that with cultivating ideas from diverse groups and not being afraid to add “and” to our idea making. How do we (as school leaders) continue to support our communities first and foremost AND ensure we reach all of our diverse learner needs? We can learn from our business and start up community to have somewhat porous boundaries and lean into partnerships to transact a win-win and source solutions for our questions. Well into the 21st century, we have been discussing and designing what innovation looks like in education in the fourth industrial revolution, now we need to enact those ideas, together. Remember the Human Element Leading a school remotely is not easy, just as leading a nonprofit or company remotely has its challenges, and I believe there is a lot to be learned from each other. The human element of the current crisis should be the first priority for all organizations. Like more conscious organizations, superintendents and school principals are putting their communities first and prioritizing health and well-being. Creating networks for leaders to connect, intersect with community partners, and share ideas is an asset we all need especially those centered on the basic needs and resources for communities we all care about. Hyper-localized ideas that can be globally applied will be the new commodity not only in business but in education. Throughout our professional experiences at mindSpark Learning, we train and teach our clients to lean into disruption, even cultivate it and learn from it. We talk about the need for distributive leadership and the power of multidisciplinary teams and the need for empathy in problem solving. Fostering a growth mindset is not new for educators, it is part of our everyday vernacular and now it is being put to the test. Educators are resilient and relentless in their pursuit to champion their students and their families. Companies can learn from educators and school leaders on what it means to build community and support a wide variety of stakeholders. Transformation of any kind for any organization takes courage. Careful, proactive leadership doesn’t just happen because suddenly all the systems we know stop working, but it can be cultivated and developed. I was never formally trained to break up a fight, ask a squatter community to leave my school grounds or be the first to console a student who lost their sibling to violence but in the moment you adapt and overcome; you learn to anticipate and act. During a crisis, school leaders will need to rely on these critical pillars more than ever, just as CEOs will have to relinquish some of their top-down approaches and mobilize and empower their teams. One of the positive outcomes from our long-debated school accountability systems is creating a culture of transparency. Even if we don’t agree with the techniques, educators and school leaders are masterful at collecting and deciphering data, discussing how the data impacts a students’ learning trajectory and adjusting based on that data. We know how to disseminate information for the purpose of pivoting and being responsive. During a crisis, the ability to collect and disseminate well-vetted information demonstrates a leaders ability to remain calm and informed. Now is the time for brilliance and unparalleled collaboration remotely. We are seeing school leaders and educators rise to the occasion as they do everyday inside their schools to build and maintain a new level of normalcy for our future workforce. As CEO of a nonprofit dedicated to supporting our country’s educational systems, during the past few weeks (and as always), the greatest tool in my arsenal has been my staff, my team. The foundation of who we are is to be agile and responsive. We see challenges as opportunities and we have a prevalent start-up mentality, adjusting constantly. Our core principles, like solving problems like it is our job (because it is), making the weirdest connection we can to transact a win-win, leaving organizations systems better than we found them and pursuing opportunities and cultivating potential, have ricoheted to the forefront reminding us, we are stronger together. And yes, in the face of adversity and uncertainty, we were built for this.

Ask anyone how prepared they felt the first time they entered the workforce, and you’re likely to get mixed responses that indicate differing levels of confidence. Ask their employers how prepared they felt these individuals were, and you're likely to hear discouraging responses across the board, at least according to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). See the chart below for reference: There is clearly a substantial disconnect between the way students felt about their proficiency, and the way employers felt. This is especially true when looking at “Professionalism/Work Ethic,” “Oral/Written Communications” and “Leadership,” which are invaluable skills in the work environment, particularly if you want to keep working. Furthermore, according to a recent report published by Gallup and Strada, only 13% of the general population strongly agree that college grads are prepared for the workforce. Only 11% of C-level business people feel college graduates are well-prepared for the workforce. Most alarming, only 26% of college graduates strongly agree that their college experience was relevant to their current job. Why is that so alarming? As reported by Gallup and Strada, “consumer ratings of relevance are more powerful predictors of quality and value than demographic characteristics of individuals, their fields of study and their levels of education.” Here’s the rub. This data only takes into account the role that higher-education plays in preparing students for the modern workforce. Of course, that makes sense considering these surveys were designed to shed light on students currently entering the workforce from college; however, by their nature alone, they are incomplete. In other words, it is time that we begin to consider the impact that K-12 education has on preparing students for the modern workforce. Luckily, there is some data there as well. Unfortunately, it is just as troubling. The same report from Gallup and Strada found that only 3% of the general population strongly agree that high school grads are prepared for college, and only 5% strongly agree that high school grads are prepared for the workforce. We need to shatter the obsolete paradigm that says students at that age are not supposed to be prepared for the workforce. Regardless of whether or not you believe high school graduates should be working, it is alarming that the vast majority of people don’t believe high school graduates are ready for college. There are certainly pockets of innovation across the country where K-12 education systems are striving to take the steps necessary to prepare students for the modern workforce. However, as a whole, the education system has toiled through the last 100 years with no significant change. K-12 has to be the catalyst in making change a possibility. INTERESTED IN A GRADUATE-LEVEL STEM PROGRAM? CHECK OUT STEMPATH The fact of the matter is, we’re heading toward a future dependent upon a more dynamic talent pipeline; we need to be prepared for that future. Researchers predict that by 2030 85% of the jobs that exist today will no longer exist. 2030 is also when the current kindergarten class will be entering college, or the workforce, and when the current 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes will be graduating college, if they attend. Which means that now is the time to start changing the narrative in workforce development. K-12 education needs to be at the epicenter of that transformation, and here’s how. Work-based Learning Is Imperative Leverage Community Voice in Your Learning Environment Students today are engaged differently and more complexly than ever before, plain and simple. Furthermore, as much as gamification, project-based learning and blended learning strategies support student engagement, not enough is being said about the benefits of work-based learning experiences for students. When students are viewed as colleagues in research alongside their teachers, and given the chance to interact with industry clients at a young age, the results are undeniable. Students learn the rigors associated with work environments, how to cope with those rigors and ultimately how to develop the creativity that leads to future careers. Schools can bring this to their learning environment by working within their communities to find industry partners that buy-in to their mission, and support the growth of career pathways for students at a young age. Connect Students to Industry Mentors Students Need to Learn Essential Skills When students are given the chance to take part in work-based learning experiences, they are inherently connected to industry mentors, and as such, taught essential life skills. The jobs of the future, and quite honestly current jobs too, depend heavily upon workers that possess creativity, adaptability, critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, communication skills and emotional intelligence. CHECK OUT OUR UPCOMING EVENTS AND INSTITUTES These are the types of skills that automation cannot replace, and the types of skills for which all employers are clamoring. When students are connected to industry mentors at a young age, they are given the opportunity to learn first-hand how valuable the skills mentioned above can, and will be, to their future careers. The value of these industry mentors cannot be understated. Schools will inherently adopt these kinds of mentors when offering work-based learning experiences within their learning environments. Real-World Authentic Learning Scenarios Problem-solving that Matters Finally, by ensuring community voice is involved in the learning schools offer, industry is able to offer authentic task-oriented work to students. At mindSpark Learning, we have personally seen the success of an education model that incorporates industry, in many different schools. CHECK OUT OUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES Students in the Adams 12 STEM school network go through the problem-based learning model, and work hand-in-hand with industry partners to solve some of their biggest problems. They have fostered the growth of student-run companies, can proudly boast that over 1,000 of their students secured internships as early as 8th grade and their students have approximately 200 pending patents for the work they have done. Likewise, students at Warren Tech -- a local high school in Golden, Colorado -- are directly connected to industry partners, and work with clients like Never Summer, the Arvada Center and various culinary programs, amongst many other fields. Warren Tech ensures these industries are a part of their students’ portfolio and resume reviews, and they even bring in representatives from these industries to conduct mock interviews with students at the end of the year. The point is, when an entire community gets involved with their schools, education becomes the driving force for that community’s holistic well-being, and thriving economy. Furthermore, students in those schools benefit tremendously from this type of community investment because they are taught the types of relevant skills that will lead to successful careers. Imagine the impact this type of industry-based education model could have on a national, or even global scale! Takeaway What are the benefits of this model to K-12 education? A more dynamic talent pipeline, an economy that’s prepared for the future and communities that are holistically built to tackle whatever is on the horizon as automation is continually integrated into daily life. Getting a four-year college degree will take a student a long way toward finding a career, but it can only take them so far once they actually enter the workforce. It is imperative that we start preparing students for the work environment at an earlier age, and it starts with K-12 education. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN WORK WITH US P.S. Before you go, make sure to download our free e-book if you haven't already! I WANT THE FREE EBOOK!

Colorado has become a technology hub, as more and more STEM and Computer Science (CS)-based businesses move into the area, which has created new jobs and drawn STEM/CS talent from all corners. STEM jobs are among the fastest growing in the nation: with top jobs found in Healthcare, Information Technology, Finance, Construction Trades and Engineering (Colorado Talent Report, 2016). From 2008 to 2018, STEM-related jobs in Colorado increased by 28%, which is 11% above the national average (Georgetown STEM state-level analysis report). Despite this growth, there is an alarming deficit of STEM-prepared workers: for every one unemployed STEM worker in Colorado, there are 15.3 job openings (Denver Post, 2017). This deficit needs to be addressed in order for Colorado to maintain a sustainable STEM industry. While Colorado is struggling to meet these growing economic demands, industry employers have been facing the reality of a workforce that does not have the skills needed for STEM/CS jobs. INTERESTED IN STEMPATH? CLICK HERE In attempt to address this issue and create a sustainable pipeline of future employees, industry partners have been funding myriads of STEM/CS programs for students. However, these attempts will prove futile. There is a missing link that impedes long-term sustainability: highly qualified STEM teachers. Yes, the STEM industry is booming and actively involved in education. Yes, exciting and successful STEM programs are in place for students. And yes, funding is actually available. However, the absence of highly qualified STEM teachers will prove to be the key without which a sustainable STEM pipeline is an impossible dream. The Deficit Where Are All of Our Workers? The deficit of STEM-prepared workers in Colorado can be attributed to a variety of factors, some of which include: the increasing need for post-secondary credentials in STEM fields, a clear lack of cohesion between various educational levels and industry demands and an education system that is not equipped to provide students with prevalent STEM knowledge that prepares them for the economic demands of the workforce. All of these factors however, are overshadowed by the severe teacher shortage. This shortage of STEM/CS qualified teachers directly affects the STEM work-pipeline. Schools do not have enough STEM/CS qualified teachers: as a result, schools either eliminate STEM/CS courses (many of which may not have been offered in the first place), or educators who are not STEM/CS qualified are charged with teaching them. Despite their best efforts, these teachers are unprepared to provide students with the relevant and critical information they need to succeed in STEM/CS-related professions. Among other aspects, students are missing important opportunities to learn about exciting occupations in STEM/CS fields: a much-needed facet of the STEM/CS pipeline that aids in providing a workforce that is both excited about, and prepared for, the current and future workforce demands. Teacher Preparation The Most Important School-based Factor in Student Learning The importance of teacher preparation cannot be understated. CHECK OUT OUR UPCOMING EVENTS AND INSTITUTES In a study addressing teacher preparation specifically in STEM areas, Teacher Preparation: One Key to Unlocking the Gate to STEM Literacy, it was found “that only a thorough familiarity with STEM content will enable a teacher to effectively engage a class of middle or high school students in STEM learning. All of the programs that have successfully improved STEM literacy [for students] have necessarily included preparation of teachers” (Ledbetter, 2012). Highly prepared teachers are the key to STEM/CS sustainability and the missing link between students and industry. The alarming lack of resources available to teachers however, inhibits them from maintaining relevance and inspiring students to move into STEM fields. Strong teacher preparation is a necessity in improving STEM literacy among students. The correlation between student outcomes and teacher inputs is indisputable; in order to increase student excitement, participation and success in STEM, STEM teachers must first be sufficiently prepared. Teachers are unequivocally the key to a sustainable STEM pipeline. It is thus of utmost concern that while every state offers Math and Science endorsement programs for teachers, there are only 16 states that offer STEM credentialing pathways. Even those pathways are often inconsistent and, more importantly, they lack cohesive integration with the needs outlined by  cutting-edge STEM industries. Notably, the majority of those credentialing pathways are certificates, not endorsements certified by State Departments of Education—a troubling reality given the current state of economic demand. This implication is mimicked in Colorado, where, apart from the CTE STEM credential, which is difficult to receive and demands tedious amounts of unrelated credentials, no such STEM credentialing pathway exists. This holds true despite the paramount importance given to increasing STEM and teacher preparation credentials. Our Greatest Leverage Teachers Prepare the Future Teachers are by far the greatest lever the economy can use to develop a sustainable STEM pipeline. Unfortunately, the increasing shortage of teachers, the inadequate access to resources and the lack of pathways that produce qualified STEM teachers only perpetuate the growing gap between workforce-ready individuals and economic demands. CHECK OUT OUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES If a sustainable STEM pipeline is not created, industry will be forced to continually train employees, a difficult and highly expensive venture. The Colorado Departments of Education and Higher Education have clearly placed a priority on increasing the number of qualified STEM students and educators. However, the absence of STEM qualified educators in Colorado, the missing piece to the sustainable STEM pipeline, needs to be addressed urgently in order to meet current and future workforce demands. STEMpath Creating a Sustainable Talent Pipeline mindSpark Learning, in collaboration with Couragion, Metropolitan State University of Denver and Colorado Succeeds, set out to address these needs. In a room filled with some of Colorado’s most ingenious minds, the solution began to take shape. And, its name is STEMpath. STEMpath is an unprecedented teacher certification program that affords educators the opportunity to take part in a graduate-level program that provides teachers with the competence and skills to teach STEM, computer science and computational thinking. This 12-18-month program fuses 3 critical components of teacher preparation that are typically offered separately, and intertwines them into one unparalleled learning experience: STEMpath combines work-based learning through in-industry externships, graduate-level coursework and professional learning centered around career literacy, information science and equity-centered design thinking to provide a well-rounded, well-informed perspective of STEM far beyond traditional skills. While the initial sequence will focus on computer science, STEMpath is designed to be a plug and play system that allows educators to deep dive into various facets of the STEM spectrum by simply changing the graduate-level coursework. Takeaway Starting in Colorado, STEMpath will meet the needs of our educators, students and workforce. By leveraging teachers, we will create a sustainable STEM pipeline that meets the workforce needs of today and tomorrow. However, there needs to be a paradigm shift in teacher appreciation, value and preparation. STEMpath is the catalyst to this paradigm shift; it is the complete game-changer we’ve been waiting for. INTERESTED IN STEMPATH? CLICK HERE