Career Cluster Appendix — from gettingsmart.com
New technology, global challenges and initiatives point to new pathways and new opportunities in our economies career clusters. The following resources highlight exemplars, entrepreneurial opportunities and high schools who are leading the way in pathway development and implementation.
On 10/11/2024,
in adult learning, Bias | Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), higher education, neurodivergent/special needs, pathways, society, sociology, United States, universities, vendors, youth,
by Daniel Christian
3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
California’s first graduate program in prison faces an uncertain future — from opencampusmedia.org by Charlotte West
Access to graduate programs inside is becoming increasingly important as the number of bachelor’s programs in prison grows with the return last year of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students. Since the first incarcerated bachelor’s graduates got their degrees from California State University Los Angeles at the state prison in Lancaster in 2021, California prisons now offer 11 bachelor’s programs, with two more starting next year.
Several of those Cal State LA grads continued on to the master’s program, which is open to students across California’s 34 prisons. It’s part of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation commitment to offering education “from grade school to grad school.” Research shows that the higher the level of education someone achieves in prison, the less likely they are to return to prison once they are released and the more likely they are to find a job.
Lawsuit claims disabled young people in Illinois prisons were denied special education for years — from opencampusmedia.org by Charlotte West; also here at WBEZ.org
A new lawsuit claims Illinois has been violating state and federal law for nearly two decades by failing to provide special education services to young people locked up in adult prisons.
The federal lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice and the Illinois State Board of Education was filed at the end of last month. On Wednesday, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking to make the case a class action lawsuit. Attorneys estimate the suit could affect hundreds of individuals currently in custody.
Lawsuits claim Black students in Northwestern’s prison education program were unjustly disciplined — from wbez.org
The men claim their efforts to prevent educators from being harassed inside were labeled as gang activity by prison officials.
A pair of federal lawsuits claim the Illinois Department of Corrections unjustly disciplined two Black students in Northwestern University’s prison education program because the students worked together to prevent university staff from harassment during their visits to the prison. Corrections officials deemed the coordinated effort to “stop problems” gang-related activity, according to the federal complaints.
The lawsuits were filed Wednesday morning. The plaintiffs, LeShun Smith and Brian McClendon, allege they were denied due process and targeted because of their race, violating their constitutional rights and effectively ending their education, said their attorney, Alan Mills.
On 09/03/2024,
in career development, Daniel S. Christian, higher education, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, Michigan, parents/guardians, pathways, student-related, workplace, youth,
by Daniel Christian
Success Rates Report for the State of Michigan — from mischooldata.org
The Success Rates report and data files show the number of degree-seeking students who enter a Michigan postsecondary community college or public university and achieve a successful outcome. This includes data for Michigan’s 28 community colleges and 15 public universities, along with aggregate metrics for the community college and public university sectors broken out by race/ethnicity and gender.
Successful outcomes include:
- Earning a certificate
- Earning an associate degree
- Earning a bachelor’s degree
- Transferring to a university (for community college students)
These rates capture both part- and full-time enrollment for all degree-seeking students as well as mobility between institutions.
The report and data files are updated in late spring. See the Recently Posted Reports page for when they were last updated.
Also see:
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Get A Job — from pathfinder.mitalent.org
- Interested in exploring in-demand jobs in Michigan? Explore Michigan’s Hot 50 Job Outlook through 2030, which includes the anticipated job growth, the average wage and the minimum education requirements for each occupation through 2028. The publication is intended to provide valuable career information to students in high school, vocational and community colleges, as well as job seekers. Additional occupational forecasts and research are available in Michigan’s Online Job Demand, a publication from Michigan’s Labor Market Information.
- The Roadmap to Opportunity highlights in-demand, high-wage careers. Explore hot job career pathways that require a certificate or an associate degree. Hear from Michigan residents who have chosen these careers and why. The website includes pathway information for the careers, including information on available programs, hourly wage rates, and cool classes you can take.
- Pure Michigan Talent Connect is your launch pad for new jobs, careers and job fairs. It is a tool connecting Michigan’s job seekers and employers and serves as a central hub linking all public and private stakeholders who support Michigan’s workforce. Pure Michigan Talent Connect serves as the state’s labor exchange system.
- The Michigan College Access Network has a list of Michigan certificate programs (PDF 770KB) which includes contact information.
Post-Graduation Opportunities and Resources — from Kent ISD/kentisd.org
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has partnered with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) and other statewide stakeholders to develop a post-graduation opportunities informational packet available on LEO’s Pathfinder resources page.
To comply with Michigan law*, districts are required to distribute the link above to all students in grades 8-12 by October 1 of each year. The information below is supplemental and focused on local opportunities and resources, assembled by Kent ISD staff.
College Information
- Trade Schools
- Colleges and Universities
- Comparing College/University Cost
- Tuition Comparison of Public Colleges
Get a Job
Serve My Community or Country
- Military Recruiter Offices
- Kent County Sheriff’s Office
- Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD)
- Grand Rapids Fire Department (GRFD)
- Life EMS
I’m Not Sure / Assess My Skills
The Educational Development Plan (EDP) tools listed on the Pathfinder site are free and very useful. However, most school districts supply students with EDP software such as Xello, Naviance, and Mavin for Career Development starting in 7th grade. Parents and teachers of enrolled students have access to their students’ EDP data through (and, in some cases, past) graduation. Consult with your school district for access to this resource.
Early College Credit in High School
Additional Resources
44% fear for child’s safety…
DC: While I’m glad that wasn’t part of my K-12 experience, I’m sad for our kids and the younger generations growing up in such a time. What if we truly cared about each other? How would our society look/be different? https://t.co/SySp78NAwk
— Daniel S. Christian (@dchristian5) August 29, 2024
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From DSC:
I realize that’s a gross generalization, but I think we all experience numerous times these days when businesses and others don’t really care about us.
On 12/20/2023,
in apprenticeships, Australia, business, career development, collaboration, colleges, community colleges, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, engagement / engaging students, Europe, higher education, internships, leadership, liberal arts, pathways, strategy, training / L&D, UK, United States, universities, vendors, workplace,
by Daniel Christian
The Evolution of Collaboration: Unveiling the EDUCAUSE Corporate Engagement Program — from er.educause.edu
The program is designed to strengthen the collaboration between private industry and higher education institutions—and evolve the higher education technology market. The new program will do so by taking the following actions:
- Giving higher education professionals better access to corporate thought leaders who can help create change at their institutions
- Educating corporate partners on the nuances of higher education and the major challenges it faces so that they can help provide meaningful solutions
- Giving the EDUCAUSE staff and leadership better access to corporate change-makers in order to advocate for change on behalf of our institutional community
- Providing the institutional community with higher-quality content and services from companies that are deeply invested in the success of higher education
- Providing the corporate community with custom-built packages that allow more meaningful connections with the institutional community—not only at our in-person events but also through online opportunities year-round
By building better bridges between our corporate and institutional communities, we can help accelerate our shared mission of furthering the promise of higher education.
Speaking of collaborations, also see:
Could the U.S. become an “Apprentice Nation?” — from Michael B. Horn and Ryan Craig
Intermediaries do the heavy lifting for the employers.
Bottom line: As I discussed with Michael later in the show, we already have the varied system that Leonhardt imagines—it’s just that it’s often by chaos and neglect. Just like we didn’t say to 8th graders a century ago, “go find your own high school,” we need to design a post-high school system with clear and well-designed pathways that include:
- Apprenticeships outside of the building trades so students can learn a variety of jobs by doing the job.
- Short-term certificates that lead to jobs without necessarily having the college degree immediately, but having the option to return for a college degree later on.
- Transfer pathways where credits earned in high school really count in college and the move from two-year college to any four-year institution is seamless.
Listen to the complete episode here and subscribe to the podcast.
On 10/16/2023,
in Bias | Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), ideas, K-12 related, pathways, skills, society, sociology, student-related, vocational / trades, youth,
by Daniel Christian
Advice From More than A Decade of Career Pathway Innovation — from gettingsmart.com by Hilary Sontag and Kerri McDermid
Excerpt:
With nearly 15 years of experience in building and leading career-connected learning initiatives, St. Vrain offers a roadmap for districts of all sizes who are beginning the journey to create their own pathways of opportunity for students.
Over the past decade, St. Vrain Valley Schools has launched more than two dozen career pathways and now has a goal to offer quality work-based learning experiences for every graduate. As staff have developed these opportunities, St. Vrain has seen significant increases in graduation rates – approximately 94 percent of St. Vrain students graduate high school in four years – and a significant decrease in dropout rates to less than one percent of students. Graduation rates among our Hispanic students have increased by 30 percentage points, almost completely eliminating graduation rate gaps between all students and students of color. St. Vrain’s post-pandemic achievement has also accelerated at a remarkable pace. Building career-connected programming, and offering it as early and broadly as possible, has demonstrated a compelling case for the effectiveness of career pathways in accelerating achievement and student success.
The value of hands-on learning in prison — from college-inside.beehiiv.com by Charlotte West
Women in Washington reflect on their experience with a pre-apprenticeship that introduces them to the trades.
When I visited the prison in May, Brittany Wright had plans to go down to the Cement Masons & Plasterers Local Union 528 in Seattle when she got out a few days later. She’s now an apprentice working on a light rail expansion project for Sound Transit, making $31 an hour plus benefits. “I’m a little nervous, but more excited to get out there and actually start using the trades,” she told me at the time. “They seem like they’re willing to work with me. And that’s all that matters.”
On 09/27/2023,
in Africa, Alternatives, assessment, education, education reform, education technology, Emotion, engagement / engaging students, homeschooling/homeschoolers, ideas, innovation, instructional design, K-12 related, learning, learning ecosystem, Learning Experience Design, learning hubs & pods & microschooling, learning spaces, love of learning, more voice more choice more control, motivation, new business models, parents/guardians, passions, pathways, pedagogy, real-world assignments, reinvent, research, society, student-related, teachers, UK, United States,
by Daniel Christian
In Iowa, a “Billy Madison Project” Yields a Different Way to do School — from by Sam Chaltain
A great flood reveals a new path . . .
The idea was simple: ask sixty community leaders to fan across the city’s public schools, follow in the footsteps of its youngest citizens, and report back on what they saw.
Fifty-nine said yes. What they found, Pickering says, “were kids with dead eyes. Kids not engaged. And kids who knew that school was a game – and the game was rigged.”
So the Billy Madison team used its findings to design a prospective high school that would actually produce what its participants said they wanted to see:
Let kids pursue their passions. Give them real work to do. And get them out of the school building, and in the community.
Passion. Projects. People.
How 9 of the World’s Most Innovative Schools Ignite Children’s Love for Learning — from learntrepreneurs.com by Eva Keffenheim
And equip the next generation to become changemakers.
This thought-provoking discussion delves into the topic of system replacement in education. Is school transformation possible without replacing the existing education system? Joining [Michael] to discuss the question are Thomas Arnett of the Christensen Institute and Kelly Young of Education Reimagined.
In an educational landscape that constantly seeks marginal improvements, [Michael’s] guests speak to the importance of embracing new value networks that support innovative approaches to learning. They bring to light the issue of programs that remain niche solutions, rather than robust, learner-centered alternatives. In exploring the concept of value networks, [Michael’s] guests challenge the notion of transforming individual schools or districts alone. They argue for the creation of a new value network to truly revolutionize the education system. Of course, they admit that achieving this is no small feat, as it requires a paradigm shift in mindset and a careful balance between innovation and existing structures. In this conversation, we wrestle with the full implications of their findings and more.
From DSC:
This reminds me of the importance of TrimTab Groups who invent or test out something new apart from the mothership.
Technology in education — from unesco.org by ; via Eva Keffenheim
A tool on whose terms?
The 2023 GEM Report on technology and education explores these debates, examining education challenges to which appropriate use of technology can offer solutions (access, equity and inclusion; quality; technology advancement; system management), while recognizing that many solutions proposed may also be detrimental.
The report also explores three system-wide conditions (access to technology, governance regulation, and teacher preparation) that need to be met for any technology in education to reach its full potential.
Bloom Academy is the first and only self-directed learning center in Las Vegas – microschooling as true, nontraditional and permissionless education alternative. 5 Questions with Microschool Founders Sarah & Yamila.https://t.co/RvxtwGXvkZ
— National Microschooling Center (@microschooling) September 27, 2023
Campus Road Trip Diary: 8 Things We Learned This Year About America’s Most Innovative High Schools — from the74million.org by Greg Toppo & Emmeline Zhao
Since last spring, journalists at The 74 have been crossing the U.S. as part of our 2023 High School Road Trip. It has embraced both emerging and established high school models, taking us to 13 schools from Rhode Island to California, Arizona to South Carolina, and in between.
It has brought us face-to-face with innovation, with programs that promote everything from nursing to aerospace to maritime-themed careers.
At each school, educators seem to be asking one key question: What if we could start over and try something totally new?
What we’ve found represents just a small sample of the incredible diversity that U.S. high schools now offer, but we’re noticing a few striking similarities that educators in these schools, free to experiment with new models, now share. Here are the top eight:
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Empowering Parents: School Choice and Technology — from obviouslythefuture.substack.com
Ep 2 | Joe Connor, Odyssey Education, ESAs, Streamlined Technology Platform, Informed Choices
What does it take to empower parents and decentralize schooling? Why is a diversity of school models important to parents? Are we at a tipping point?
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PROOF POINTS: Lowering test anxiety in the classroom — from hechingerreport.org/ by Jill Barshay
Review of 24 studies finds quizzes boost achievement and alleviate stress over exams
Several meta-analyses, which summarize the evidence from many studies, have found higher achievement when students take quizzes instead of, say, reviewing notes or rereading a book chapter. “There’s decades and decades of research showing that taking practice tests will actually improve your learning,” said David Shanks, a professor of psychology and deputy dean of the Faculty of Brain Sciences at University College London.
Still, many students get overwhelmed during tests. Shanks and a team of four researchers wanted to find out whether quizzes exacerbate test anxiety. The team collected 24 studies that measured students’ test anxiety and found that, on average, practice tests and quizzes not only improved academic achievement, but also ended up reducing test anxiety. Their meta-analysis was published in Educational Psychology Review in August 2023.
The End of Scantron Tests — from theatlantic.com by Matteo Wong
Machine-graded bubble sheets are the defining feature of American schools. Today’s kindergartners may never have to fill one out.
Benefits of Pretesting in the Classroom — from learningscientists.org by Cindy Nebel
There are several possible reasons why pretesting worked in this study.
- Students paid more attention to the pretested material during the lecture.
- The pretest activated prior knowledge (some of them are clearly doing a lot of prework), and allowed them to encode the new information more deeply.
- They were doing a lot of studying of the pretested information outside of class.
- There are some great spaced retrieval effects going on. That is, students saw the material before lecture, they took a quiz on it during the pretest, then later they reviewed or quizzed themselves on that same material again during self-study.