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Participate in the Modernization of the National Career Clusters Framework!

We are thrilled to announce that Indigo Education Company and WestEd, in partnership with Advance CTE, are teaming up to lead the initiative in modernizing the National Career Clusters Framework. This framework serves as a blueprint for states nationwide, guiding Career Technical Education (CTE) programs for high school students and adult reskilling initiatives. Over 11 million students participate in CTE programs each year!

As we embark on this transformative journey, we invite you to share this opportunity to be an integral part of the process with industry partners in your network. Diverse insights and perspectives from people in the field are vital in ensuring that every sector is fully represented.

Together, let’s forge a path toward modernization and excellence in career development!

Nominate key industry players to participate in sector-specific Industry Advisory Groups by filling out this form. Give others the opportunity to shape the direction of the National Career Clusters Framework and contribute to the future of career pathways by sharing the nomination form, open until Friday, June 9th, with your networks.

ALAS Press Release Using Indigo Data

Indigo is excited to share some of our data findings working with ALAS‘ (Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents) Superintendent Leadership Academy

Preview: 

“This survey data shows that ALAS is training and attracting highly skilled leaders who care deeply about making sure people feel seen and valued (Empathy) and helping others (Social). They feel deeply connected to their work and create environments where others also feel they belong (Sense of Belonging),” said Sheri Smith, founder and CEO of Indigo. “This meaningful work contributes to high levels of self-confidence and the ability to bring together many pieces of information to solve complex social problems (Integrative Ability). Basically ALAS leaders are rock stars who we want leading our schools and districts!”

Click here to read more!

LearnLaunch Accelerator Announces Next Round of EdTech Resources

BOSTON, May 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — LearnLaunch Accelerator is thrilled to announce its latest round of investments and unveil the four edtech companies selected for its highly competitive Breakthrough Program. Since 2013, LearnLaunch Accelerator has invested in nearly 60 edtech companies and continues to be recognized for its strong track record accelerating industry-leading solutions and teams dedicated to improve teaching and learning.

“The edtech industry is undergoing unprecedented growth,” said Jean Hammond, Co-Founder and General Partner at LearnLaunch Accelerator. “This change is visible in deeper understanding and appetite for technology solutions coming from education practitioners, larger investment rounds, and world-wide edtech funding surpassing $8B in 2018. It’s important now, more than ever, for companies looking to participate in this market to tighten their entry, growth, and scaling strategies. It’s challenges like these that our program is designed to support companies through.”

Click here to read more about the 2019 LearnLaunch Accelerator Cohort.

The Average Student Myth

The Average Student Myth: A New Study Focuses on the Importance of the Individual in Education

By Sheri Smith

In his book, The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness, Harvard scientist Dr. Todd Rose examines  the idea that there is no average person and that by ignoring individual differences – and what makes us each distinctive – we overlook potential and talent.  The End of Average not only shows that there is no average person but also demonstrates the importance of nurturing traits that define each of us.  

Dr. Rose’s  work is part of a new field – the science of individuality— that looks for solutions to social problems by studying  individuals rather than group averages.  It is a recognition that each person has diverse talents. As the CEO of Indigo Education, I was curious to see if our own research would support Dr. Rose’s findings. I wanted to answer for myself whether the idea of the average student is really a myth.

The Indigo Assessment captured 150 dimensions of students – covering behaviors[1], motivators[2], soft skills[3], and perceptions[4]. The survey included four well-known corporate tools that have been used for the past 35 years. 

The results were striking.  Out of 15,012 students, not one fell into the average. Our analysis supported that the average student is indeed a myth.

Yet the education system is built on the myth that you can and should teach to the “average.” If a student does not fit into a very narrow mold measuring only academic performance, he or she is considered deficient.  Students have little time for learning what matters: relationship building, developing soft skills, tapping into self-knowledge, and understanding how to exercise their constitutional right for the pursuit of happiness. 

Ending average in education changes teacher training programs, what we spend our money and time on, how our schools look, how we measure success, how we define ourselves, and perhaps most importantly, how we give people the opportunity for leading a fulfilling life.   

The real change that needs to happen in education is not 1-to-1 laptops, some amazing new common core, or the perfect super school – it’s a mindset shift from the system to the individual. 

[1] Behaviors are measured by TTI’s DISC. DISC is a behavior assessment tool based on the DISC theory of psychologist William Moulton Marston, which centers on four different behavioral traits: dominance, influencing, steadiness, and compliance. This theory was then developed into a behavioral assessment tool by industrial psychologist Walter Vernon Clarke.

[2] The Indigo Motivators Assessment is based on the research of Dr. Eduard Spranger and Gordon Allport and their study of human value, motivation and drive.

[3] Soft Skills are measured using a Likert scale survey developed by Target Training International based on the most important soft skills for workplace success. 

[4] Perceptions are measured with TTI’s version of the Hartman Value Profile. It is based on the science of formal axiology, developed by Robert S. Hartman, providing rational answers to many of our questions about human values. Our values are the keys to our personalities, to self-knowledge, and to understanding others.

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