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Bridging the Internship Divide: Strategies for Equitable Access to Internships

A Conversation with a previous Internship Program Coordinator

By MAXX Potential

  • Education, Internship

It’s no secret that an internship can be instrumental in fast-tracking a tech career. However, internships are hard to come by, and once you do have one, it’s not unusual to face hours of busy work rather than focusing on bringing value to the team’s project. Therefore, if you want an internship, you’re likely facing an uphill battle to find one.

“I went through an internship program between my junior and senior year at VCU, and then after graduating college I spent two years rotating through an IT Leadership Development program. As my career progressed a few years later, I found myself leading both the early career development and internship programs I was once a part of.” John Spauls, Integrator & Chief Operating Officer, understands the importance of an internship and where it can take you.

The Problems of Limited Availability and Inadequate Mentorship in Internships

Many students want an internship, and many are unable to find an internship that offers both experience and pay. In 2022, 21.5% of college students had an internship, which still means that nearly 80% did not. For those who don’t score an internship, they have to find other ways to build out their resume and score the career path of their dreams. 

Limited Availability of Tech Internships

“There was always a challenge of finding managers who would take on the interns.” Spauls shared from his experience of running an internship program. “Interns were often inexperienced and needed a lot of handholding to help them start to return value.”

For Spauls, his previous company valued internships, setting a specific number for how many interns they’d take for each of their programs. It was up to him to find managers who would take on the interns. A lot of managers liked the idea of interns, but when reality hit, interns were often viewed as a burden.

In a paper published in 2019 about internships, students emphasized that the limited availability of internships had a lot to do with what field you were in. Some science students had no access to internships whereas business students had multiple options for internships. This problem becomes exacerbated with the fierce competition for the limited internships, where students from well-known universities often scored the role.

Expand Opportunities via Partnerships

When it comes to expanding an internship program within a company, the best push for it often comes from the leadership. That buy-in is the encouragement that many managers need to take on the responsibility of an internship. 

“I always knew how many interns we would be bringing in for the summer. After we chose the number, I’d go out to find the project and the manager.” Spauls specified that because the number of interns came from leadership that he always had buy-in. “It was easy to say this is what the company wants – this is part of our talent pipeline to bring in people fresh out of college.”

Some other ideas to help with limited availability of internships include:

  • Focus on the benefits of internship programs (talent recruitment, fresh perspective, etc.)
  • Encourage collaboration between industry stakeholders
  • Foster partnerships with educational institutions and employers to make internships a part of academic programs, ensuring practical experience
  • Consider virtual internship opportunities to broaden access and allow skill building

Inadequate Mentorship of Interns

“You would give a manager two months’ heads up about their intern, and the day would arrive that the intern clocks in…and sometimes there’s no work for them to do.” Spauls recalled. “I would have the manager committed, but they didn’t prepare for the intern so that intern would just be twiddling their thumbs. It wasn’t always the best internship experience.”

Coffee runs, organizing paperwork, doing nothing – interns often find themselves doing menial tasks rather than participating in value-add activities that push a project forward. Individuals fresh from high school or college need some level of structured management, likely both a clearly-guided project and frequent check-ins. There’s an expectation that a manager is going to be both a mentor and coach to the intern. That isn’t always the case.

“A manager may be really good at helping their team prioritize different work items, hit deliverables, and be the first line of accountability, and that’s part of being an exceptional manager,” Spauls said. “But that manager is very used to working with experienced professionals who already know their technology. Put that same manager with a team of college interns, and they could get frustrated – college interns need additional guidance for the projects and professional environment.”

Interns often need some level of support and coaching from their manager and the professional team that they work with, and when they don’t get that, they face unclear learning expectations, limited work, and missed networking opportunities. The lack of support can impact the organization’s ability to tap into new ideas and achieve certain goals.

Select Experienced Professionals for Mentorship

“When I started running the internship program, I had my first taste of being both a manager and a coach.” Spauls commented, “Sure, we had interns who weren’t experienced with the technology, but I remember sitting down with an intern to discuss habit changes that would support having a 9 to 5 job.”

Interns needed guidance on the most basic soft skills expected in a professional environment. While some managers might have a knack for nurturing talent, not everyone does. One smart way to support the internship program is to provide training for managers who will have interns on their team.

“Our program had an onboarding orientation for the managers where we’d explain the process, assign interns, and share evaluation criteria. There wasn’t too much to it.” Spauls paused, “And then, it was up to the managers.”

Having managers who are trained to support interns is one step, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Other ways that could achieve the company goal of training new interns for a possible career at their company could include the following:

  • Structured mentorship programs: a formal plan that includes regular check-ins with goal setting and opportunities for skill development
  • Ongoing training for managers: resources to support mentorship development, including skills such as active listening, constructive feedback, and knowing what a supportive environment looks like
  • Peer mentorship networks: interns can learn from one another and support each other through the internship experience, offering camaraderie, knowledge sharing, and community

A Public-Access Summer Internship Simulator Event

“The simulator solves the main problems that I saw running the internship program,” Spauls shared. “We already have a company, fake by name but real by deliverables, that takes interns through different types of roles within a company where they solve real world scenarios.”

The simulator is a repeatable process. We can quickly develop new scenarios to take cohorts through with a number of tasks to complete within a team setting. It’s online, so that alleviates any problems with getting to a location. We have the ability to create an unlimited number of meaningful internship experiences to serve internship needs with educational institutions.

“We have people on staff who are providing feedback, and they are trained to provide valuable insights so that each intern can improve and grow.” Spauls pointed out. “That’s what we do. We help people succeed when they don’t have this type of technology experience or understanding of a professional environment. It’s a tremendous opportunity that likely provides a better experience than probably a lot of corporate internships.”

Are you looking for a technology internship experience for a student or an adult? The MAXX public-access summer internship simulator is live now. Explore and register for the upcoming public sessions here.

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Bridging the Internship Divide: Strategies for Equitable Access to Internships

A Conversation with a previous Internship Program Coordinator

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Bridging the Internship Divide: Strategies for Equitable Access to Internships

A Conversation with a previous Internship Program Coordinator

By MAXX Potential

  • Education, Internship

It’s no secret that an internship can be instrumental in fast-tracking a tech career. However, internships are hard to come by, and once you do have one, it’s not unusual to face hours of busy work rather than focusing on bringing value to the team’s project. Therefore, if you want an internship, you’re likely facing an uphill battle to find one.

“I went through an internship program between my junior and senior year at VCU, and then after graduating college I spent two years rotating through an IT Leadership Development program. As my career progressed a few years later, I found myself leading both the early career development and internship programs I was once a part of.” John Spauls, Integrator & Chief Operating Officer, understands the importance of an internship and where it can take you.

The Problems of Limited Availability and Inadequate Mentorship in Internships

Many students want an internship, and many are unable to find an internship that offers both experience and pay. In 2022, 21.5% of college students had an internship, which still means that nearly 80% did not. For those who don’t score an internship, they have to find other ways to build out their resume and score the career path of their dreams. 

Limited Availability of Tech Internships

“There was always a challenge of finding managers who would take on the interns.” Spauls shared from his experience of running an internship program. “Interns were often inexperienced and needed a lot of handholding to help them start to return value.”

For Spauls, his previous company valued internships, setting a specific number for how many interns they’d take for each of their programs. It was up to him to find managers who would take on the interns. A lot of managers liked the idea of interns, but when reality hit, interns were often viewed as a burden.

In a paper published in 2019 about internships, students emphasized that the limited availability of internships had a lot to do with what field you were in. Some science students had no access to internships whereas business students had multiple options for internships. This problem becomes exacerbated with the fierce competition for the limited internships, where students from well-known universities often scored the role.

Expand Opportunities via Partnerships

When it comes to expanding an internship program within a company, the best push for it often comes from the leadership. That buy-in is the encouragement that many managers need to take on the responsibility of an internship. 

“I always knew how many interns we would be bringing in for the summer. After we chose the number, I’d go out to find the project and the manager.” Spauls specified that because the number of interns came from leadership that he always had buy-in. “It was easy to say this is what the company wants – this is part of our talent pipeline to bring in people fresh out of college.”

Some other ideas to help with limited availability of internships include:

  • Focus on the benefits of internship programs (talent recruitment, fresh perspective, etc.)
  • Encourage collaboration between industry stakeholders
  • Foster partnerships with educational institutions and employers to make internships a part of academic programs, ensuring practical experience
  • Consider virtual internship opportunities to broaden access and allow skill building

Inadequate Mentorship of Interns

“You would give a manager two months’ heads up about their intern, and the day would arrive that the intern clocks in…and sometimes there’s no work for them to do.” Spauls recalled. “I would have the manager committed, but they didn’t prepare for the intern so that intern would just be twiddling their thumbs. It wasn’t always the best internship experience.”

Coffee runs, organizing paperwork, doing nothing – interns often find themselves doing menial tasks rather than participating in value-add activities that push a project forward. Individuals fresh from high school or college need some level of structured management, likely both a clearly-guided project and frequent check-ins. There’s an expectation that a manager is going to be both a mentor and coach to the intern. That isn’t always the case.

“A manager may be really good at helping their team prioritize different work items, hit deliverables, and be the first line of accountability, and that’s part of being an exceptional manager,” Spauls said. “But that manager is very used to working with experienced professionals who already know their technology. Put that same manager with a team of college interns, and they could get frustrated – college interns need additional guidance for the projects and professional environment.”

Interns often need some level of support and coaching from their manager and the professional team that they work with, and when they don’t get that, they face unclear learning expectations, limited work, and missed networking opportunities. The lack of support can impact the organization’s ability to tap into new ideas and achieve certain goals.

Select Experienced Professionals for Mentorship

“When I started running the internship program, I had my first taste of being both a manager and a coach.” Spauls commented, “Sure, we had interns who weren’t experienced with the technology, but I remember sitting down with an intern to discuss habit changes that would support having a 9 to 5 job.”

Interns needed guidance on the most basic soft skills expected in a professional environment. While some managers might have a knack for nurturing talent, not everyone does. One smart way to support the internship program is to provide training for managers who will have interns on their team.

“Our program had an onboarding orientation for the managers where we’d explain the process, assign interns, and share evaluation criteria. There wasn’t too much to it.” Spauls paused, “And then, it was up to the managers.”

Having managers who are trained to support interns is one step, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Other ways that could achieve the company goal of training new interns for a possible career at their company could include the following:

  • Structured mentorship programs: a formal plan that includes regular check-ins with goal setting and opportunities for skill development
  • Ongoing training for managers: resources to support mentorship development, including skills such as active listening, constructive feedback, and knowing what a supportive environment looks like
  • Peer mentorship networks: interns can learn from one another and support each other through the internship experience, offering camaraderie, knowledge sharing, and community

A Public-Access Summer Internship Simulator Event

“The simulator solves the main problems that I saw running the internship program,” Spauls shared. “We already have a company, fake by name but real by deliverables, that takes interns through different types of roles within a company where they solve real world scenarios.”

The simulator is a repeatable process. We can quickly develop new scenarios to take cohorts through with a number of tasks to complete within a team setting. It’s online, so that alleviates any problems with getting to a location. We have the ability to create an unlimited number of meaningful internship experiences to serve internship needs with educational institutions.

“We have people on staff who are providing feedback, and they are trained to provide valuable insights so that each intern can improve and grow.” Spauls pointed out. “That’s what we do. We help people succeed when they don’t have this type of technology experience or understanding of a professional environment. It’s a tremendous opportunity that likely provides a better experience than probably a lot of corporate internships.”

Are you looking for a technology internship experience for a student or an adult? The MAXX public-access summer internship simulator is live now. Explore and register for the upcoming public sessions here.

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Bridging the Internship Divide: Strategies for Equitable Access to Internships

A Conversation with a previous Internship Program Coordinator

READ MORE

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A Professional's Look at AI Ethics

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Understanding Large Language Models in Education: A Quick Guide for Teachers

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

What's the Buzz About LLMs?

Students are increasingly harnessing the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT for academic tasks such as research and homework. These AI systems are trained on enormous datasets, making them adept at understanding and generating human-like language.

When used correctly, LLMs have the potential of being a warm-up for creativity or an assistant in brainstorming. This technology is known for making things up so it’s crucial that educators understand how to implement this technology in the classroom.

“There are not going to be shortcuts to the learning process – there are going to be better ways to learn and worse ways to learn,” says Jack Goodman, Studiosity’s founder and chair, in ComputerWeekly. “But you won’t learn to know what you think if you don’t learn to express yourself with language.”

How LLMs Function

In simple terms, these models predict the subsequent word in a text string based on the preceding words. This ability allows them to interact in a human-like way, answering questions, summarizing articles, or even engaging in dialogues. 

“Another important development is the use of pre-training, where a language model is first trained on a large dataset before being fine-tuned on a specific task.” ScienceDirect article points out. This pre-training and fine-tuning process greatly enhances the model’s performance, making it not only more accurate but also more versatile in handling specialized tasks, from academic research to customer service interactions.

Want to learn more about how this technology works? Dive deeper into the subject with our AI Learning Resources.

The Double-Edged Sword of LLMs

The efficiency of LLMs brings both opportunities and challenges. As these systems become more advanced, they pose difficulties for anti-plagiarism tools to differentiate between student-created and AI-generated content. This increasing proficiency can be both an asset and a potential issue, particularly in academic settings.

Other concerns raised are about students and educators relying too heavily on the model, negatively influencing critical thinking and problem solving skills. LLMs have the ability to transform the education landscape, and educators and students need to know how to use this tool best.

An Action Plan for Educators

To navigate this complex landscape, educators should be well-informed about the capabilities and limitations of LLMs. This knowledge will help in formulating educational policies that promote the ethical and effective use of such tools. For actionable insights and comprehensive guidelines, educators can check out our AI Learning Resources.

LLMs provide a great resource for educators to create personalized learning experiences for their students. For example, the models could be used to analyze a student’s writing and provide tailored feedback and suggested resources to assist the student’s learning. This frees up an educator to focus on other parts of education.

Educators can effectively prepare for a future where LLMs will play an increasingly significant role in the educational environment.

 

 

Sources:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1041608023000195

https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Large-language-models-harnessed-for-education

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Bridging the Internship Divide: Strategies for Equitable Access to Internships

A Conversation with a previous Internship Program Coordinator

READ MORE

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Understanding Large Language Models in Education: A Quick Guide for Teachers

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

What's the Buzz About LLMs?

Students are increasingly harnessing the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT for academic tasks such as research and homework. These AI systems are trained on enormous datasets, making them adept at understanding and generating human-like language.

When used correctly, LLMs have the potential of being a warm-up for creativity or an assistant in brainstorming. This technology is known for making things up so it’s crucial that educators understand how to implement this technology in the classroom.

“There are not going to be shortcuts to the learning process – there are going to be better ways to learn and worse ways to learn,” says Jack Goodman, Studiosity’s founder and chair, in ComputerWeekly. “But you won’t learn to know what you think if you don’t learn to express yourself with language.”

How LLMs Function

In simple terms, these models predict the subsequent word in a text string based on the preceding words. This ability allows them to interact in a human-like way, answering questions, summarizing articles, or even engaging in dialogues. 

“Another important development is the use of pre-training, where a language model is first trained on a large dataset before being fine-tuned on a specific task.” ScienceDirect article points out. This pre-training and fine-tuning process greatly enhances the model’s performance, making it not only more accurate but also more versatile in handling specialized tasks, from academic research to customer service interactions.

Want to learn more about how this technology works? Dive deeper into the subject with our AI Learning Resources.

The Double-Edged Sword of LLMs

The efficiency of LLMs brings both opportunities and challenges. As these systems become more advanced, they pose difficulties for anti-plagiarism tools to differentiate between student-created and AI-generated content. This increasing proficiency can be both an asset and a potential issue, particularly in academic settings.

Other concerns raised are about students and educators relying too heavily on the model, negatively influencing critical thinking and problem solving skills. LLMs have the ability to transform the education landscape, and educators and students need to know how to use this tool best.

An Action Plan for Educators

To navigate this complex landscape, educators should be well-informed about the capabilities and limitations of LLMs. This knowledge will help in formulating educational policies that promote the ethical and effective use of such tools. For actionable insights and comprehensive guidelines, educators can check out our AI Learning Resources.

LLMs provide a great resource for educators to create personalized learning experiences for their students. For example, the models could be used to analyze a student’s writing and provide tailored feedback and suggested resources to assist the student’s learning. This frees up an educator to focus on other parts of education.

Educators can effectively prepare for a future where LLMs will play an increasingly significant role in the educational environment.

 

 

Sources:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1041608023000195

https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Large-language-models-harnessed-for-education

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A Conversation with a previous Internship Program Coordinator

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Tech Exploration: the Student’s Key to Charting a Career Path

How Students Prepare for Their Future Career with Tech Exploration

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

Are you ready to discover how tech exploration can benefit students as they charter a career pathway?

Work-based learning allows students to sharpen essential skills, explore various tech career options, and develop their confidence in tech. From gaining valuable expertise to nurturing imagination, this exploration holds the key to unlocking a world of opportunities.

3 Benefits of Tech Exploration for Students

Embarking on a journey in Information Technology and Career and Technical Education as a student brings forth a plethora of benefits that can shape a future tech career pathway in an extraordinary way. Students who understand their interests and develop essential tech skills early will be ahead of their peers within the tech industry. Hands-on, work-based experiences enhance technical abilities, problem-solving aptitude, and critical thinking prowess, equipping students with the tools to excel in any tech-related role.

Whether interested in software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, or UX design, students can work on projects that focus on each. This exploration opens up different paths and paves the way for students to follow their interests into a fulfilling and dynamic career.

Work-based learning nurtures innovation within the safety of an explorative environment where students can experiment with new ideas and push boundaries.

Developing Essential Tech Skills

From coding and programming languages to data analysis and problem-solving, students who explore areas of technology in middle school or high school create a strong foundation of technical skills for the rapidly changing industry. 

Hands-on experimentation expands student skills, and they develop tech-related skills that will power their future careers. A key mentality for many technologists is their problem-solving capabilities alongside curiosity to discover solutions. Students who tap into their curiosity and perseverance for solving technical problems are sharpening a much-sought-after skill.  

The ever-evolving tech industry needs people who are ready to pivot with the rapid changes and continue to learn. Tech exploration with work-based simulators is a transformative journey that equips students with essential skills, nurtures creativity, and prepares students for a dynamic career pathway in the tech industry.

Exploring Tech Career Options with a Simulated Work Environment

A simulated work environment is a great option in Career and Technical Education for students because it allows students to immerse themselves in different career options and gain valuable insights into each role. This simulator allows students to work on a project in roles like the following:

  • Information Security Analyst
  • Network Administrator
  • System Administrator
  • Network Incident Response Specialist
  • Security Incident Response Specialist
  • Scrum Master
  • Software Developer
  • Quality Assurance Specialist
  • Help Desk Technician
  • Data Governance Specialist
  • Business Intel Analyst

The student discovers what each position does in a day-to-day capacity. Students learn about the intricacies of coding, the power of data analysis, the importance of securing digital systems, or the art of creating seamless user experiences. They also step into the real challenges of working on a team, deadlines, and communication differences.

Tech exploration before choosing a tech pathway for continued education can help students better understand their career options. 

Nurturing Creativity and Innovation in Work Simulators

Tech exploration not only helps students develop essential skills and explore career options but also nurtures creativity and innovation. The world of technology is a playground for imagination, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and inspiring new ideas.

During a work simulator, students are encouraged to think outside the box, experiment with new concepts, and challenge conventional thinking. Students interact with projects for clients and face surprise challenges that simulate the tech environment. While they strive to create a great solution for their “client,” this is also a safe environment for trial and error.

The work simulator fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration where students share ideas and build upon each other’s work. Students develop hard and soft skills that will become applicable to their future careers. 

Tech exploration as a student is not just about developing skills and exploring careers; it’s a catalyst for creativity and innovation. It empowers students to think differently, challenge norms, and contribute to the ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry.

How to Develop a Tech Exploration Program for Students

Schools, such as CodeRVA in Richmond, Virginia, understand how crucial it is to offer students the opportunity to dive into tech to determine their future career pathway through work simulation and experiential learning. Incorporating Career and Technical Education into the very core of the school system can transform future generations.

At a baseline level, STEM teachers can challenge students to take advantage of online resources and to build their own applications and programs. One of the best ways to learn about technology is to interact with it online, and the rapidly changing nature of technology means textbooks can’t keep up.

Together, we can help students be more ready for their future. MAXX Potential believes in providing work-based learning and mentorship to equip people from all backgrounds for their tech careers.

Is your school district ready to jump into career exploration with a focus on work-based learning to empower students for their tech career paths? Schedule a consultation today at MAXXpotential.com/schedule-a-consultation.

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Bridging the Internship Divide: Strategies for Equitable Access to Internships

A Conversation with a previous Internship Program Coordinator

READ MORE

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A Professional's Look at AI Ethics

READ MORE

I Taught My Mother-In-Law How to Clone Herself

A Professional’s Tools for AI-Generated Videos

READ MORE

Tech Exploration: the Student’s Key to Charting a Career Path

How Students Prepare for Their Future Career with Tech Exploration

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

Are you ready to discover how tech exploration can benefit students as they charter a career pathway?

Work-based learning allows students to sharpen essential skills, explore various tech career options, and develop their confidence in tech. From gaining valuable expertise to nurturing imagination, this exploration holds the key to unlocking a world of opportunities.

3 Benefits of Tech Exploration for Students

Embarking on a journey in Information Technology and Career and Technical Education as a student brings forth a plethora of benefits that can shape a future tech career pathway in an extraordinary way. Students who understand their interests and develop essential tech skills early will be ahead of their peers within the tech industry. Hands-on, work-based experiences enhance technical abilities, problem-solving aptitude, and critical thinking prowess, equipping students with the tools to excel in any tech-related role.

Whether interested in software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, or UX design, students can work on projects that focus on each. This exploration opens up different paths and paves the way for students to follow their interests into a fulfilling and dynamic career.

Work-based learning nurtures innovation within the safety of an explorative environment where students can experiment with new ideas and push boundaries.

Developing Essential Tech Skills

From coding and programming languages to data analysis and problem-solving, students who explore areas of technology in middle school or high school create a strong foundation of technical skills for the rapidly changing industry. 

Hands-on experimentation expands student skills, and they develop tech-related skills that will power their future careers. A key mentality for many technologists is their problem-solving capabilities alongside curiosity to discover solutions. Students who tap into their curiosity and perseverance for solving technical problems are sharpening a much-sought-after skill.  

The ever-evolving tech industry needs people who are ready to pivot with the rapid changes and continue to learn. Tech exploration with work-based simulators is a transformative journey that equips students with essential skills, nurtures creativity, and prepares students for a dynamic career pathway in the tech industry.

Exploring Tech Career Options with a Simulated Work Environment

A simulated work environment is a great option in Career and Technical Education for students because it allows students to immerse themselves in different career options and gain valuable insights into each role. This simulator allows students to work on a project in roles like the following:

  • Information Security Analyst
  • Network Administrator
  • System Administrator
  • Network Incident Response Specialist
  • Security Incident Response Specialist
  • Scrum Master
  • Software Developer
  • Quality Assurance Specialist
  • Help Desk Technician
  • Data Governance Specialist
  • Business Intel Analyst

The student discovers what each position does in a day-to-day capacity. Students learn about the intricacies of coding, the power of data analysis, the importance of securing digital systems, or the art of creating seamless user experiences. They also step into the real challenges of working on a team, deadlines, and communication differences.

Tech exploration before choosing a tech pathway for continued education can help students better understand their career options. 

Nurturing Creativity and Innovation in Work Simulators

Tech exploration not only helps students develop essential skills and explore career options but also nurtures creativity and innovation. The world of technology is a playground for imagination, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and inspiring new ideas.

During a work simulator, students are encouraged to think outside the box, experiment with new concepts, and challenge conventional thinking. Students interact with projects for clients and face surprise challenges that simulate the tech environment. While they strive to create a great solution for their “client,” this is also a safe environment for trial and error.

The work simulator fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration where students share ideas and build upon each other’s work. Students develop hard and soft skills that will become applicable to their future careers. 

Tech exploration as a student is not just about developing skills and exploring careers; it’s a catalyst for creativity and innovation. It empowers students to think differently, challenge norms, and contribute to the ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry.

How to Develop a Tech Exploration Program for Students

Schools, such as CodeRVA in Richmond, Virginia, understand how crucial it is to offer students the opportunity to dive into tech to determine their future career pathway through work simulation and experiential learning. Incorporating Career and Technical Education into the very core of the school system can transform future generations.

At a baseline level, STEM teachers can challenge students to take advantage of online resources and to build their own applications and programs. One of the best ways to learn about technology is to interact with it online, and the rapidly changing nature of technology means textbooks can’t keep up.

Together, we can help students be more ready for their future. MAXX Potential believes in providing work-based learning and mentorship to equip people from all backgrounds for their tech careers.

Is your school district ready to jump into career exploration with a focus on work-based learning to empower students for their tech career paths? Schedule a consultation today at MAXXpotential.com/schedule-a-consultation.

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Bridging the Internship Divide: Strategies for Equitable Access to Internships

A Conversation with a previous Internship Program Coordinator

READ MORE

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A Professional's Look at AI Ethics

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From Classroom to Career: How Career and Technical Education Transforms Students into IT Professionals

Equipping the Next Generation of IT Professionals

By MAXX Potential

  • Education
From Classroom to Career: How Career and Technical Education Transforms IT Professionals

For students interested in the tech industry, CTE programs transform the trajectory from classroom to career through work-based learning experiences.  

During the 1960s and 1970s, vocationally-based education reached a high point, and then in the 1980s, the focus shifted to college course preparation. A growing body of career and technical education research and data revealed that jobs are changing and new skills are required for tech careers.

“Young people used to follow a path right out of school to the factory with just a little bit of job training, [but] those jobs are not there anymore,” said Neil Ridley, director of the State Initiative at Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce, in an article about modernizing career and technical education. “High school shouldn’t be seen as just a pipeline anymore; it’s a building block.”

As of March 2022, the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) conducted a study on CTE in the state of Florida that revealed that there’s a skills gap of 54% of jobs that require skills training at the educational level between high school and college. Meanwhile, only 45% of Florida workers possess this level of training.

To prepare students for their future careers in tech, CTE is crucial.

How CTE Transforms the IT Career Pathway

Career and technical education goes hand-in-hand with traditional education by elevating technical skills and professional abilities through real-world work and experience. Students who participate in CTE programs step into an environment that prioritizes in-depth technical training alongside company partnerships. 

Students of all abilities benefit from CTE programs. Over the years, CTE research studies have revealed that students with disabilities who participate in CTE programs are 5% more likely to graduate from high school on time and 20% more likely to be employed after graduation. 

Students Experience Cutting-Edge Technology

CTE information technology programs allow students to experience cutting-edge technologies and industry trends for projects. It means working on hard and soft skills for real-world tasks rather than just being exam ready. 

“People have such outdated and just wrong impressions of what career education is,” Paul Fain said in a CTE basics article. “It’s not for dirty jobs, as many people think – drill press operator comes to mind. Many of these roles are in high-demand, high-tech fields.”

Internship is often a part of CTE programs, and some employers see it as the key to developing their team, so that entry-level individuals can learn while they earn. The tech industry offers a lot of opportunity for people without traditional education because the industry changes so rapidly.

Students who participate in CTE programs build out their resume and acquire high-demand professional skills, including communication, collaboration, and leadership 

Students Learn How to Collaborate and Solve Problems

“They didn’t give me the answer, but they gave me the support.” Kume Goranson, Ed.D., Executive Director at CodeRVA, and Rob Simms, MAXX Partner discuss what makes work-based learning experience so important for today’s students who are gearing up for their careers.

When students take on a long-term, work-based project along with a team of classmates, they’re working for a client, whether real or simulated. The client often has an idea of what they want, and the students must figure out how to meet the client’s expectations, project manage, troubleshoot, and interact professionally.

What makes work-based learning experiences so different from a school group project is that the team of students face real-career frustrations. They may face a client who says one thing, but after seeing the rough draft, realizes they want something else.

A real part of any job is facing a project that has no instruction manual.

Students Take Risks in a CTE Program

A CTE program allows students to gain real-world experience through work-based learning that’s either a work simulation or an employer partnership. 

This hands-on learning helps students test the waters of their potential future IT career under the watchful eyes of CTE program facilitators. CTE information technology mentors are available to students to discuss difficult challenges within their long-term project. Students can take risks within the safety of the program without possible career repercussions.

CTE programs often rely on partnerships with local companies to provide industry information, examples of tech challenges, and other supplemental instruction. From these partnerships, students expand their knowledge and their network.

Future Trends and Opportunities in CTE for IT Professionals

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) career pathways are vital for future economic growth, societal adaptability, and innovation. The rapid changes within the tech industry means that traditional programs fall behind the cutting-edge advancements, and CTE programs have the ability to allow students to see what’s happening in tech careers right now.

Emerging technologies mean that textbooks cannot keep up with industry trends, and traditional education needs to find ways to help students be prepared for their futures beyond the typical user experience of smartphones and computers. CTE programs help students explore evolving tech career paths while prioritizing lifelong learning. 

Is your school district ready to jump into career exploration with a focus on work-based learning to empower students for their tech career paths? Schedule a consultation today at MAXXpotential.com/schedule-a-consultation.

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From Classroom to Career: How Career and Technical Education Transforms Students into IT Professionals

Equipping the Next Generation of IT Professionals

By MAXX Potential

  • Education
From Classroom to Career: How Career and Technical Education Transforms IT Professionals

For students interested in the tech industry, CTE programs transform the trajectory from classroom to career through work-based learning experiences.  

During the 1960s and 1970s, vocationally-based education reached a high point, and then in the 1980s, the focus shifted to college course preparation. A growing body of career and technical education research and data revealed that jobs are changing and new skills are required for tech careers.

“Young people used to follow a path right out of school to the factory with just a little bit of job training, [but] those jobs are not there anymore,” said Neil Ridley, director of the State Initiative at Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce, in an article about modernizing career and technical education. “High school shouldn’t be seen as just a pipeline anymore; it’s a building block.”

As of March 2022, the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) conducted a study on CTE in the state of Florida that revealed that there’s a skills gap of 54% of jobs that require skills training at the educational level between high school and college. Meanwhile, only 45% of Florida workers possess this level of training.

To prepare students for their future careers in tech, CTE is crucial.

How CTE Transforms the IT Career Pathway

Career and technical education goes hand-in-hand with traditional education by elevating technical skills and professional abilities through real-world work and experience. Students who participate in CTE programs step into an environment that prioritizes in-depth technical training alongside company partnerships. 

Students of all abilities benefit from CTE programs. Over the years, CTE research studies have revealed that students with disabilities who participate in CTE programs are 5% more likely to graduate from high school on time and 20% more likely to be employed after graduation. 

Students Experience Cutting-Edge Technology

CTE information technology programs allow students to experience cutting-edge technologies and industry trends for projects. It means working on hard and soft skills for real-world tasks rather than just being exam ready. 

“People have such outdated and just wrong impressions of what career education is,” Paul Fain said in a CTE basics article. “It’s not for dirty jobs, as many people think – drill press operator comes to mind. Many of these roles are in high-demand, high-tech fields.”

Internship is often a part of CTE programs, and some employers see it as the key to developing their team, so that entry-level individuals can learn while they earn. The tech industry offers a lot of opportunity for people without traditional education because the industry changes so rapidly.

Students who participate in CTE programs build out their resume and acquire high-demand professional skills, including communication, collaboration, and leadership 

Students Learn How to Collaborate and Solve Problems

“They didn’t give me the answer, but they gave me the support.” Kume Goranson, Ed.D., Executive Director at CodeRVA, and Rob Simms, MAXX Partner discuss what makes work-based learning experience so important for today’s students who are gearing up for their careers.

When students take on a long-term, work-based project along with a team of classmates, they’re working for a client, whether real or simulated. The client often has an idea of what they want, and the students must figure out how to meet the client’s expectations, project manage, troubleshoot, and interact professionally.

What makes work-based learning experiences so different from a school group project is that the team of students face real-career frustrations. They may face a client who says one thing, but after seeing the rough draft, realizes they want something else.

A real part of any job is facing a project that has no instruction manual.

Students Take Risks in a CTE Program

A CTE program allows students to gain real-world experience through work-based learning that’s either a work simulation or an employer partnership. 

This hands-on learning helps students test the waters of their potential future IT career under the watchful eyes of CTE program facilitators. CTE information technology mentors are available to students to discuss difficult challenges within their long-term project. Students can take risks within the safety of the program without possible career repercussions.

CTE programs often rely on partnerships with local companies to provide industry information, examples of tech challenges, and other supplemental instruction. From these partnerships, students expand their knowledge and their network.

Future Trends and Opportunities in CTE for IT Professionals

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) career pathways are vital for future economic growth, societal adaptability, and innovation. The rapid changes within the tech industry means that traditional programs fall behind the cutting-edge advancements, and CTE programs have the ability to allow students to see what’s happening in tech careers right now.

Emerging technologies mean that textbooks cannot keep up with industry trends, and traditional education needs to find ways to help students be prepared for their futures beyond the typical user experience of smartphones and computers. CTE programs help students explore evolving tech career paths while prioritizing lifelong learning. 

Is your school district ready to jump into career exploration with a focus on work-based learning to empower students for their tech career paths? Schedule a consultation today at MAXXpotential.com/schedule-a-consultation.

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5 Timeless Talents for a Shifting Tech Landscape

By MAXX Potential

  • Apprenticeship, Education

A shifting tech landscape demands that technologists center themselves in strong mental models while growing their timeless talents to ensure their career longevity. One of the constants in technology is change. 

This resiliency in thinking and skills will help technologists to excel in their tech careers no matter how the tech industry changes, grows, or pivots.

How Mental Models Make You A Stronger Thinker

“For me, it’s like, how do you picture and put things in your brain?” Rahim Islam, MAXX Potential Solution Delivery Manager, shared. “That’s how I think of mental models.”

Farnham Street explains that, “A mental model is simply a representation of how something works. We cannot keep all of the details of the world in our brains, so we use models to simplify the complex into understandable and organizable chunks.”

What we can learn from this is that as we each continue in our careers we can build on our mental models for analyzing problems.

first principles image

A Popular Mental Model: The Concept of First Principles

According to Farnham Street, First Principles is one of the core mental models because, “First-principles thinking is one of the best ways to reverse-engineer complicated problems and unleash creative possibility.”

“It really comes from philosophy.” John Dlugokecki, MAXX Potential Partner, shared. “So breaking things down into indivisible axioms is the very academic explanation, and then using those axioms to create foundational truths for building your solution.”

This way of thinking is not how many adults choose to think. In fact, most people lean into the established “this is how it’s always been done.”

Believe it or not, the humans that think best in the concept of first principles are children.

Children rely on the question “why” to understand the world around them. Their constant litany of “why” often annoys their parents, babysitters, teachers, and nearby adults. Yet, this technique of exploring the world helps children make connections.

Bringing the concept of “why” into the boardroom can frustrate coworkers, and it can get to the root of a problem. When a team of people are willing to follow the “why” to its root, great things happen.

5 Timeless Talents for a Shifting Tech Landscape

Beyond mental models, we’ve determined five timeless talents to help technologists in an ever changing tech industry. We believe that strengthening the following talents can help you ride the changes in tech: communication, adaptability, problem solving, lifelong learning, and collaboration.

Communication

Being able to explain an idea through words, whether spoken or written, is an essential skill for technologists who plan to make tech their long-time career. The key component clarifies confusing information and streamlines project collaboration.

Adaptability

Technology is known for its rapid change, and with that knowledge, technologists must exercise their adaptability. How quickly do you pivot to new ideas? Are you willing to try different styles and systems of doing things? What do you do to stay relevant in an ever-changing environment?

“As long as you’re comfortable being in a state of not having everything mastered and you’re comfortable with that, you tend to open up a lot more to learning more, to feedback, to new ideas.” Rahim observed.

Problem Solving

When it comes to problem solving, John pointed out that, “Using the right tool for the right job may sometimes mean using older, more established tools. If you’re just upgrading or replacing for the sake of replacing, that’s not necessarily good problem solving.”

Lifelong Learning

Part of technology is constantly learning new ideas, systems, and possibilities. The more tools you understand and are exposed to, the better for knowing what tool works best in different situations. When you’re a technologist, you’re committing to a career filled with unending learning.

Collaboration

Engineers and technologists need to consider the people aspect of their projects and solutions. When you’re working with a team or a client, technologists prioritize how the end users will interact with the final product. The newest trends and technologies are exciting, but if no one can use it, what’s the point?

Partner with MAXX to invest in the future

Are you ready to work with eager and talented MAXX Apprentices who exhibit these five timeless talents? Partner with MAXX Potential today at MaxxPotential.com/Business-Solutions.

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5 Timeless Talents for a Shifting Tech Landscape

By MAXX Potential

  • Apprenticeship, Education

A shifting tech landscape demands that technologists center themselves in strong mental models while growing their timeless talents to ensure their career longevity. One of the constants in technology is change. 

This resiliency in thinking and skills will help technologists to excel in their tech careers no matter how the tech industry changes, grows, or pivots.

How Mental Models Make You A Stronger Thinker

“For me, it’s like, how do you picture and put things in your brain?” Rahim Islam, MAXX Potential Solution Delivery Manager, shared. “That’s how I think of mental models.”

Farnham Street explains that, “A mental model is simply a representation of how something works. We cannot keep all of the details of the world in our brains, so we use models to simplify the complex into understandable and organizable chunks.”

What we can learn from this is that as we each continue in our careers we can build on our mental models for analyzing problems.

first principles image

A Popular Mental Model: The Concept of First Principles

According to Farnham Street, First Principles is one of the core mental models because, “First-principles thinking is one of the best ways to reverse-engineer complicated problems and unleash creative possibility.”

“It really comes from philosophy.” John Dlugokecki, MAXX Potential Partner, shared. “So breaking things down into indivisible axioms is the very academic explanation, and then using those axioms to create foundational truths for building your solution.”

This way of thinking is not how many adults choose to think. In fact, most people lean into the established “this is how it’s always been done.”

Believe it or not, the humans that think best in the concept of first principles are children.

Children rely on the question “why” to understand the world around them. Their constant litany of “why” often annoys their parents, babysitters, teachers, and nearby adults. Yet, this technique of exploring the world helps children make connections.

Bringing the concept of “why” into the boardroom can frustrate coworkers, and it can get to the root of a problem. When a team of people are willing to follow the “why” to its root, great things happen.

5 Timeless Talents for a Shifting Tech Landscape

Beyond mental models, we’ve determined five timeless talents to help technologists in an ever changing tech industry. We believe that strengthening the following talents can help you ride the changes in tech: communication, adaptability, problem solving, lifelong learning, and collaboration.

Communication

Being able to explain an idea through words, whether spoken or written, is an essential skill for technologists who plan to make tech their long-time career. The key component clarifies confusing information and streamlines project collaboration.

Adaptability

Technology is known for its rapid change, and with that knowledge, technologists must exercise their adaptability. How quickly do you pivot to new ideas? Are you willing to try different styles and systems of doing things? What do you do to stay relevant in an ever-changing environment?

“As long as you’re comfortable being in a state of not having everything mastered and you’re comfortable with that, you tend to open up a lot more to learning more, to feedback, to new ideas.” Rahim observed.

Problem Solving

When it comes to problem solving, John pointed out that, “Using the right tool for the right job may sometimes mean using older, more established tools. If you’re just upgrading or replacing for the sake of replacing, that’s not necessarily good problem solving.”

Lifelong Learning

Part of technology is constantly learning new ideas, systems, and possibilities. The more tools you understand and are exposed to, the better for knowing what tool works best in different situations. When you’re a technologist, you’re committing to a career filled with unending learning.

Collaboration

Engineers and technologists need to consider the people aspect of their projects and solutions. When you’re working with a team or a client, technologists prioritize how the end users will interact with the final product. The newest trends and technologies are exciting, but if no one can use it, what’s the point?

Partner with MAXX to invest in the future

Are you ready to work with eager and talented MAXX Apprentices who exhibit these five timeless talents? Partner with MAXX Potential today at MaxxPotential.com/Business-Solutions.

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Upcoming work-based learning conferences

Ready to travel? CTE conferences we are looking forward to.

By Rob Simms

  • Education
MAXX Conference Swag

It’s conference time and we are hitting the road. We’ve put together a list of some of the events we are interested in and are happy to share them with you. Hope to see you at one of them!

April 28-29, Salt Lake City, UT, ACTE Work-Based Learning Conference

This is the ACTE National Work-Based Learning Conference. Here you will make connections, share ideas and work together to build programs that will shape the future of education and the world.

May 5-6, 2022 Albany, NY, WECA Conference

For educators in New York State, this work-based learning conference returns from a pandemic hiatus.

May 9-12, Savannah, GA, 41st Annual Conference

The National Association for Career Technical Education Information (NACTEI) is proud to host a National Perkins Leadership Conference for 2022. Plan to attend to receive policy and legislative updates from national and state CTE leaders, contribute to national work group discussions, and discover “best practices” in CTE.

Sep 28-30, North Falmouth, MA NCLA-CTE Best Practices & Innovations Conference

The annual conference co-hosted by the NCLA and the Administration Division of the Association for Career and Technical Education® (ACTE®) focuses on professional development for administrators of secondary and post-secondary career and technical education programs and institutions.

Nov 30 – Dec 3, Las Vegas, NV, ACTE CareerTech Vision Conference

This is the annual national CTE Vision conference from ACTE. Experience unparalleled networking and professional development, covering high-quality secondary and postsecondary CTE

 

Bookmark this page and check back in once in a while as we’ll be updating it as the year progresses.

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Takeaways from SXSW EDU

Accidental acceleration; Learning / working in the Metaverse; Soft durable power; Texas BBQ

By Rob Simms

  • Education
SXSW EDU Badge

With SXSW EDU a wrap we share some of the good stuff we walked away with including: something positive out of the pandemic, the future of technology and work, and the most essential skills necessary to succeed in that future. Of course, we also talk about our new favorite Texas BBQ.

Accidental acceleration

Up first is a remark from one of the last sessions called “Reimagining the Learn-to-Work Ecosystem” where Monique Umphrey observed that the acceleration of technology use (in schools and in workplaces) caused by the pandemic is “…the unique opportunity of our time.” With more than $40 billion in HEERF funds and $122 billion in ESSER funds deployed by the federal government over the last 2 years, she isn’t kidding. 

For example, US K-12 public schools went from roughly two-thirds of students having a dedicated digital device to more than 90%. That technology, when used well, can be a powerful accelerator even if it was “by accident”. Think of the ability of students to learn-by-doing in areas of software development, data analytics and cybersecurity – much of which can be learned via resources freely available online. Before 2020, only the students fortunate to be in the right schools had that opportunity. Now over 13 million more students have the basic tools to access a career pathway in IT. Put more simply in another late session: two years of Covid-19 pushed education and work forward by 10 years.

How does this play out for the kids? How about the more than 36 million cybersecurity jobs alone coming online in the next decade? Now add to that 72% of CEO’s surveyed by PwC worried about workforce skill gaps today. The opportunity for current students is clear.

Learning and working in the Metaverse

The convergence of 3D virtual worlds, blockchain and NFT’s in what is widely regarded as the “Metaverse” or “Web 3.0” were topics in some more sessions on the last day. Think of students experiencing heretofore impossible scenarios like walking around a volcano or on the deck of a Viking ship. At the same time workers will be able to “do” physical tasks virtually and safely in a training environment before taking it to “IRL”. We can imagine that training through immersive simulations will soon be coming to the classroom. What if your 4th period was an “internship” working in the IT department at a company which exists only in the Metaverse?

Web 3.0 pundits say it will also be a place where some of the jobs yet defined will be creators of these environments: virtual world building. Students using the technology recently unleashed by the pandemic as noted above now have the chance to be a part of this emerging future. They will use the technology of advanced game simulation engines like Unreal and Unity. How many jobs will this be over the next 10 years? Let the forecasting begin.

Soft durable power

What skills will be needed to harness the tech and get those jobs? Programming Java? How about…

  • Collaboration
  • Curiosity
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving

Panelists in the “Meta Opportunities and Meta Challenges” session cited these key “power skills” needed by Web 3.0 workers. Look familiar? They are the same “soft skills” which define success for IT workers today – whether entry level or experienced professional. On day zero of this conference we encountered yet another term for this: “durable skills”. We think this is the most accurate term used to describe those critical skills which stand the test of time as technology and fads come and go. It’s no wonder that our apprentices, and everyone at MAXX, lives these skills every day.

Texas BBQ

And finally, thanks to John, our resident BBQ connoisseur, we made our way to Terry Black’s Barbecue – a new favorite. Hope we’ll see you there during SXSW EDU 2023.

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The numbers are in…

Gen Z career surveys; middle school exploration; cyber jobs

By Rob Simms

  • Education

After our second day at SXSW EDU we are gathering up some data and starting to see some themes: the viability of the non-college career pathway, early career exploration, and durable skills everywhere. Let’s dive into some newly released (like today) research data and connect the dots.

The survey says…

The results of a recent landmark study about high-quality non-college career pathways was released at the conference today. The upshot of the study is that while people believe non-degree pathways to good careers are worth considering, risk aversion and lack of opportunity awareness inhibit action. Specifically:

  • 68% of employers and 58% of Gen Z believe companies should hire candidates from non-degree pathways
  • 54% of employers and 65% of Gen Z believe non-degree pathways pose more risk
  • 80% of employers and 72% of Gen Z believe they need more information about non-degree opportunities
 

Shocking? No. But even as the ink is drying on the official report (soon to be published), everyone is trying to figure out how to solve for the risk and information challenges it suggests. Thankfully, there are some proven models.

At MAXX, our model for apprentices (the post-graduate opportunity for your students) is a 2-sided market: apprentice and client. Not only is it a market driven model, it’s a self-sustaining model. It sustains as long as we are serving both sides of the model: apprentices are getting great jobs and clients are getting great value. It sustains when we are filling a market need.

The middle school connection

Back in Virginia Beach, Virginia where our team just wrapped up a two-day Career Lab with 30 middle school students, we start to see the connections between the model and how it meets the challenges cited in the research. In Virginia Beach the students were exploring IT careers with hands-on activities and an understanding of the durable skills required to succeed. With this immersive experience, they will have the opportunity and the information necessary to craft a high school experience to maximize their preparedness for a future in tech, should they choose that path. During the session in which the survey results were discussed, Jean Eddy, CEO of American Student Assistance (ASA) said it best: “Middle school is the right time to let kids know what the options are to them.”

Once in high school, part of their preparation might include an immersive IT Work Simulation where students take on job roles and titles in an intense and focused simulation of an Enterprise IT department of a fictitious company. Students emerge with a newfound appreciation for what it really takes to collaborate, problem solve, meet deadlines and get things done in a professional environment.

Students emerging from high school having prepared for a career in tech since middle school will be much more informed and more likely to succeed as an apprentice candidate and have confidence in their future. And when a candidate becomes an apprentice, our clients understand their risk concerns are mitigated through the MAXX process.

 

About those jobs and those durable skills

This all matters because, according to one panelist today, there will be 36 million cybersecurity jobs over the next decade. That’s just cybersecurity, one aspect of IT which also includes software development, data, systems, quality assurance, etc. On the same panel, another speaker was almost pounding his armrest “…to succeed, people need the durable skills which will allow them to learn the technical skills”. 

This last point puts a final note on how MAXX de-risks apprentices in the workplace. Our focus on those durable skills allows our apprentices to succeed, no matter what kind of curveball gets thrown at them. 

So while the research study data is new, the problems are not. At MAXX we’ve been refining the solutions for more than a decade. For the past four years that solution also includes our work with schools to help their students understand their options and build confidence in the future.

 

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Durable Skills meet the World of Work

Impressions from the first day of SXSW EDU 2022

By Rob Simms

  • Education
Austin, TX skyline

Following our first day at SXSW EDU, Tucker, John and I reflect on “durable skills”, the World of Work curriculum, and a school district where students start career exploration in Kindergarten.

Durable skills

Walking along the Austin skyline during our first evening at SXSW EDU, Tucker brought up his interest in a newfound term: “durable skills”. And while it’s new to us, the concept isn’t. Durable skills are in alignment with what most of us refer to as “soft skills” we at MAXX know are core to the success of our apprentices. This includes personal traits like collaboration and perseverance which are hard to truly measure from a resume or job interview. It’s no wonder students who show signs of these same traits also tend to be the most successful. These are also the skills you carry throughout your career, even as technology changes. So while technology comes and goes; it’s your durable skills which stay with you and allow you to meet new challenges time and again.

We love it.

The next generation of work-based learning

As dozens of conference attendees visited us on the expo floor, you could see their eyes light up when they heard about what we mean when we talk about the Next Generation of Work-Based Learning. This includes:  

  • Universal agreement those durable skills are key drivers of success
  • A recognition of the value of a hassle-free and high quality immersive internship experience
  • A sense of wonder when they understood graduates could apply for our apprenticeship program and get their first full-time paid IT job straight out of school

Where kindergarten students explore careers

During the last session I attended, the forward thinking superintendent of Cajon Valley Union School District guided us through the journey his district was making as it incorporates the World of Work into the wider curriculum. Looking deeper into this approach, we see a crossover with durable skills (e.g. problem solving) and the core elements of preparing for careers: exploration and simulation. These are fundamental tenets of the work-based learning programs MAXX delivers in schools today (Career Lab and Work Simulator). Here are a few other interesting takeaways from that session:

  • Career exploration starts in Kindergarten and continues through every grade level. This helps students connect their learning to possible future work – making what they learn in school more relevant in the process.
  • Students spend about 6 hours / day on their devices – aside from school. While managing screen time down may be desirable, we should also think about meeting students where they are.
  • Meeting students where they are means learning how to harness the digital channels and the social media outlets they use today and will be using tomorrow.

Win-win-win-win

For places like Cajon Valley where today 70% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, we see how supporting programs like World of Work with things like the MAXX Career Lab, Work Simulator and Apprenticeship could have a profound impact on the students, employers and community. 

We call that a win-win-win-win.

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