Pathways to Success

First we evaluate participants’ academic skills - administering skill interests and learning styles. Results are reviewed and a plan developed for basic skills training core areas. As participants progress to problem solving and critical skills, a bridge is constructed to connect with future work skills and a supervised apprenticeship experience.

A growing segment of the youth population is particularly impacted by economic and social change caused by gaps in basic skills beginning in from early grades and continuing into high school. The resulting low skill level leads to low/no pay, creating a cycle of feeling left behind.

Our solution for creating multiple pathways to success integrates intensive basic skill learning with advanced problem-solving and critical thinking. A team format reinforces collaborative learning and problem-solving, reinforces collaborative skills and uses interest profiles to make applied learning experiences personal.

The self-perception of many disadvantaged youth is blocked by fixed mindsets which are attitudinal barriers to initiating new learning or skill acquisition.  Using intensive (20 hrs/week) tutoring, expert basic skills teachers in math, reading and writing work with groups of five students to develop the collaborative learning process.  This leads to more advanced academic learning and is accompanied by mindset boosters which offer incremental changes toward a more open growth mindset. Within the team, student leaders may emerge as role models and coaches for teammates.

These strategies include using the science of mental preparation to establish routines and rituals as a prelude to a specific task.  Individuals learn to establish routines, marshal energy and focus prior to a new task. Creating a highly choreographed set of actions, a ritual can reinforce confidence to proceed and perform at a higher level.

After advanced learning skills are developed, pre-apprenticeship team training and applied work related and technical skills are introduced. The actual apprenticeship placement is viewed as a partnership with a business and includes on the job training and paid work experience. A specific set of work skills is evaluated by a supervisor to raise the productivity of the apprentice. Bringing the project to scale at another location involves training a qualified team.

Underserved and underrepresented youth often lack personal vision and basic academic skills contributing to fixed mindsets blocking achievement.  With a continuum of falling behind and experiencing learning gaps this youth population may give into a self-image as a temporary, unskilled worker lacking economic and social mobility. This becomes an urban or rural demographic which has complex underpinnings and requires multiple strategies to resolve.

The problem remains a major socio-economic burden and requires successful educational and skill training programs with the potential to build confidence and competence among this youth population.

The gap that occurs between the desired future state of disadvantaged youth skill development and the current state appears to grow wider in a knowledge economy. The change required to close the learning gap begins with identifying outcomes of performance followed by an assessment of current skill level and accompanying mindset.  In basic skill training, incremental gains and mindset boosters create an unfreezing process which leads to improved academic and work skills, (the change transition). Finally, the applied learning and task development at the apprentice level serves to lock in or refreeze the behavior and the growth mindset.  

• Individual participant assessment profile of basic skills, Skill Scan and learning style
• Basic skills competency in math, reading and writing
• Advanced skills: critical thinking, problem solving skills acquisition
• Pre-apprenticeship work skills in industry area
• Apprentice technical and team work skills on the job

Community College standard readiness test in math, writing and reading - Basic Skills Attainment

Problem sets and case analysis and team development skills - Critical Thinking Improvement

Establish effectiveness and efficiency standards with business partner

Includes technical and collaborative team skills. - Develop Apprentice Skills

The Technology in the solution combines successful group leaning and training with a range of platforms used by CUNY START basic Skills/Mass Bay CC STEM and Skill Readiness platforms and Bristol CC competency based digital basic skills assessments.

Blackboard discussion with facilitator, working with groups of 5, posing questions, securing feedback, and monitoring student discussions on learning project.

EdTech software for self-paced learning and remedial reinforcement.

Adaptive software such as Mind-Spark On the job training videos and micro-learning support for reinforcement of skills.

The learning technologies are focused on personal assessment and team instruction. Expert teaching and support counseling insure members monitoring of a individual growth mindset with competency objectives.  Learning leaders emerge in teams and act as role models and coaches group of five. Team learning insures development of task and relational skills in listening, leadership/ collaboration and emotional intelligence.

The five stages of program implementation (Narrative solution) outline the project’s main components and structure.  Once the pilot is being implemented, we will establish a detailed web site and bi-weekly newsletter to keep interested parties informed. We will partner with community colleges and technical schools to form a consortium of Youth Skill Development.  Finally, we will introduce the program at regional educational conferences as a multi-path process for confronting disadvantaged youth and the challenge of preparing them for the job skills of the future.

We seek initial funding to build out partnerships and design assessments, basic skills format and advanced learning team project learning. The project leaders will volunteer services in the first stages (6-9 months).

Funding resources for core staff are needed as well as support for business partnerships (apprentice roles) and additional educational competency and advanced skill software. Facility rental space may be needed.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9oa5lurxzwey65f/Pathways%20to%20Success%20-%20Full%20Narrative.pdf?dl=0

We aspire to participate in a systematic approach to dealing with a major social, economic and education problem which is world-wide and which undermines individual lives, families and communities. We have personally experienced the problem in secondary schools, technical high schools and in community and state colleges.

Team members who are concerned with, and committed to, addressing these issues and who have professional backgrounds (academics and practitioners). Potential of academic partners from MassBay CC, Minuteman Technical High School and Framingham State University.

Only existing community and state college that address basic skill training.