Three Model Policies, One Goal
The three model polices for the advancement of durable skills outlined by Americasucceedes.org are 1) The Agile High school model, 2) A System Aligned With Durable Skills Education and 3) Quality Career-Connected Learning Opportunities.
The Agile High School Model:
Revitalizes the high school experience by modernizing graduation requirements, embraces learning beyond the classroom with seat-time waivers and credit flexibility, and invests in pilot programs and innovation zones.
System Aligned With Durable Skills Education:
Create strong, employer-aligned career readiness standards, and enhance accountability and transparency in career readiness to better prepare students for a future that requires a blend of academic knowledge and durable skills.
Quality Career-Connected Learning Opportunities:
Establish comprehensive work-based learning programs for students to gain valuable hands-on experiences, developing both durable and hard skills. This framework is essential for high-quality, learner-centered work-based learning journeys.
How do the MindSage lessons and Certification program align to the above model policies?
Model Policy 1B: Embrace learning beyond the classroom
Overview:
Our in-person remote training program led by industry professionals mirrors top company soft skills courses. With seat-time flexibility the MindSage program facilitates active participation in work-based learning and experiential opportunities, fostering the development of essential durable skills.
Policy Component:
“States should implement seat time waivers to empower schools in adopting innovative learning methodologies such as competency-based education an capstone graduation requirements.”
- Page 4, Model Policies for Advancing Durable Skills, Americasucceedes.org
Alignment: Possible Capstone Project/Program
The MindSage Durable Skills Professional Training Certification (PTC) Program can serve as a transformative Capstone project where students not only showcase acquired durable skills but also demonstrate additional core competencies in real-world work environments.
Participants engage in assignments and tasks that go beyond the theoretical, providing a comprehensive display of their practical abilities and holistic skill set.
The program, if implemented as an after-school or 21st-century program or as a Capstone experience not only validates their development of durable skills but also underscores their readiness for real-world challenges in a professional setting.
Model Policy 1C: Innovate to Foster Innovation in Education.
Overview:
Educational progress depends on experimenting with new models. It is essential for states to support and endorse these innovative approaches and programs, as they play a crucial role in fostering innovation and ensuring success.
Policy Component:
“States should establish a culture of research and development through pilot programs and/or innovation zones that empower selected districts and schools with the necessary flexibility to foster an environment conducive to innovative learning practices..”
- Page 4, Model Policies for Advancing Durable Skills, Americasucceedes.org
Alignment: Innovative in Education.
The MindSage Durable Skills Program, built upon a well-established approach to teaching soft skills in a corporate setting, is a logical yet innovative choice for educators involved with student career preparedness. While it could be seen as experimental by some, the program is uniquely designed to foster innovative thinking in both students and teachers. With durable skill-specific lessons, like its corporate training precursor, the MindSage program leads the way in developing fresh methods for learning and education in preparing students for the workplace
Model Policy 2B: Develop robust, employer-aligned career-readiness standards
Overview:
The development of non-academic skills, particularly durable skills, is crucial for empowering students beyond specific career paths. With durable skill-specific lessons mirroring corporate training, MindSage surpasses industry professionals' expectations, especially in hiring, pioneering innovative methods for workplace preparation.
Policy Component:
“• States involve business and industry leaders in the development of career-readiness standards to ensure their relevance and effectiveness over time.
• States should explicitly incorporate the development of Durable Skills into their career-readiness standards, aligning standards with the skills most in demand among employers.
• States should foster partnerships with businesses, industries, and community organizations to provide hands-on experiences to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application of career-readiness standards.”
- Page 8, Model Policies for Advancing Durable Skills, Americasucceedes.org
Alignment: Explicit Incorporation of Durable Skills Identified by Business and Industry Leaders.
The MindSage Durable Skills PTC Program, originally designed by professionals in the workplace to transform interns into high-performing employees, serves as a model aligned with key recommendations for state education systems. The durable skill lessons are based on insights from a survey of 100+ leading companies, universities, and organizations, and explicitly incorporate Durable Skills into career-readiness training. The core 32 durable skills lessons align with employer demands to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.
It should also be noted that MindSage uses the same performance assessment methods used in companies and corporations across every industry.
Model Policy 3A: Work-based learning experiences to develop and apply durable and hard skills.
Overview:
Incorporating Durable Skills into work-based learning opportunities provides out-of-the-classroom experiences, ensures that students develop competencies essential for success in their professions, and vital for personal growth and adaptability in an ever-changing world.
Policy Component:
“• States/districts should explicitly include Durable Skills as essential learning objectives in WBL program requirements so that students will understand the significance of Durable Skills as part of their career development journey.
• Districts should incorporate reflective practices centered around Durable Skills into WBL programs to encourage introspection and application of these skills.
• States/districts should develop documentation/ credentialing of Durable Skills to recognize students’ achievements in cultivating these competencies.
• States/districts should implement ongoing assessment and feedback strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of WBL programs and identify areas for improvement.”
- Page 8, Model Policies for Advancing Durable Skills, Americasucceedes.org
Alignment: Durable skills taught as part of a WBL program.
The MindSage Durable Skills PTC Program aligns seamlessly with key recommendations for Work-Based Learning (WBL) programs. It ensures the explicit inclusion of Durable Skills as essential learning objectives, emphasizing their significance in students' career development journey. The program incorporates reflective practices centered around Durable Skills to encourage introspection and application. Furthermore, it provides documentation and credentialing of Durable Skills, recognizing students' achievements in cultivating these competencies within the WBL framework through certification.
Model Policy 3B: Overhauling CTE curriculum, pedagogies, and partnerships, for Durable Skills that foster lifelong success.
Overview:
Revitalizing CTE is crucial for preparing students for a dynamic workforce. MindSage, derived from a professional workplace setting, aligns precisely with innovative changes advocated by this policy, equipping students with technical and durable skills for success.
Policy Component:
“• States should revise CTE curricula to integrate Durable Skills alongside technical proficiencies.
• States and districts should establish strategic alliances with local industries, businesses, and trade associations to enhance the validity of CTE programs.”
- Page 8, Model Policies for Advancing Durable Skills, Americasucceedes.org
Alignment: Durable skills training that can be used across all industries and assist graduates to thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce.
Revamping career and technical education to meet evolving workforce demands and empower students with lifelong skills. MindSage operates within a comprehensive work-based learning framework. This ensures clear real-world expectations and quality standards, fostering adaptable and collaborative environments for durable skills development. By focusing on Durable Skills, MindSage prepares students for professional success and personal growth in our ever-changing landscape.