How to teach the 15 skills students need for success

Some skills aren’t easily taught, but they’re essential as students leave school and enter the global workforce

21st century skills. Social and emotional learning skills. “Soft” skills. Whatever you choose to call them, there is a set of skills that are essential for success in school, work, and life — and yet teaching and assessing these skills in a formal, structured way can be challenging. According to … Read More

From classroom to boardroom: Building diverse workforce tech talent starts with STEM

Encouraging more girls to pursue STEM learning and work in STEM fields should start in the early grades

Women make up 47 percent of all employed adults in the U.S., but as of 2015, they hold only 25 percent of computing roles, according to data from the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT). Of the 25 percent of women working in tech, Asian women make up … Read More

How can high schools better prepare students for college and career success?

There are three key actions high schools can take to inspire students and ensure they're prepared for life beyond graduation

Today, many parents in the United States are worried — worried about their children’s physical health if schools open, worried about their mental health in case they don’t, and worried about the quality of their education in either case. While the worry about health is driven by COVID-19, the concern … Read More

Inspiring students for college and career—and beyond

Educators can deepen students’ college and career interests with dedicated discovery exercises

Students are constantly reminded about the importance of preparing for college and career, but the responsibility is a shared one. Educators and parents play a large role in ensuring that students are equipped with the proper skillset and knowledge to navigate life post-high school, and are motivated to succeed. For … Read More

How the 4 Cs can prepare students for life beyond high school

The 4 Cs are more than skills taught in school--they'll stick with students throughout their academic, professional, and personal growth

As our world continues to become more connected through technology, today’s students have boundless access to a wealth of information. But, to effectively leverage these resources, students need to be able to make meaning of them. According to educator Thomas Hoerr, the very notion of intelligence has changed. We no … Read More

Parents are critical to college and career readiness

Education leaders and key stakeholders should work to ensure parents have the resources they need to guide their children through college and career readiness preparations

On March 13, Keller, a second grader at Vermont’s Hinesburg Elementary, came home from school and didn’t return for six months. Like 20 million other students across the United States, Keller, with no preparation or warning, abruptly shifted to online learning. Two hundred miles south of Hinesburg, Matt was a … Read More

Getting students back on track to higher education

Higher education lost about 400,000 students this fall--who are they, and what can educators, families, and students themselves do to help them towards their goal of college and a career?

COVID-19 has raised a number of major questions for educators, one of which is “Why are college applications decreasing?” Higher education lost about 400,000 students this fall. Are these students taking a gap year between high school and college? If so, that might be a good thing, since data suggests … Read More

11 college and career readiness resources

College and career readiness is of critical importance for all students--here's how to guide them down the right path

College and career readiness should start early to help students develop growth mindsets and outline goals for their personal success. With students coming from different backgrounds and socio-economic situations, one path doesn’t fit all. College readiness and access is often difficult, and students aren’t always sure how to embark upon … Read More

3 reasons virtual STEM is here to stay

Virtual STEM offers engaging learning opportunities for students—opportunities that have proved essential during COVID

Virtual STEM can be defined in various ways – some educators define it as broadly as an online recording of any STEM-based topic, while others are more specific, saying virtual field trips or activities are required for it to be virtual STEM. Regardless, the most important qualification for virtual STEM … Read More

The challenges of online math instruction

A kindergarten teacher recounts her journey in online math instruction to inspire confidence and collaboration in her students under extraordinary circumstances

On March 30, 2020, I entered a whole new world of teaching my kindergarten class. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, educators across the world have had to completely change the way we work. It took a week of training, webinars, and numerous Zoom meetings with my teaching peers to learn … Read More