Blue Zones’ Post

The problem: Student achievement in math & reading plummeted post-pandemic to levels we haven’t seen in 20 years. We are not doing nearly enough, especially for students from marginalized communities. The solution: The Building Bridges Initiative is a group of #education advocates from across political lines that was formed to discuss American education in the wake of the Covid pandemic and create proven paths forward that put kids first. https://lnkd.in/g7HZ4C_4 

Exploring the Visionaries of Tomorrow: A Chat with Grandchildren of School Founders on the Future of Education with Scholar Planet. 🚀 #ScholarPlanet #EducationVisionaries #FutureOfEducation #ScholarPlanetTalks #InspiringStudents #EdTechFutures

I think this is important in the higher education context, but these forms of gaslighting can be readily applied to corporate settings. "Based on our shared experience working within multiple higher education institutions and roles, we use the concept of institutional gaslighting to help identify and name four specific ways that universities gaslight and resist institutional transformation efforts. We call these strategies the slowdown, the pushback, the shutdown and the blowback." After you read the article, let me know which one you have seen in corporate spaces? #DEI #gaslight

Democracy, civic and global engagement is one of four areas where the University of Michigan will create dramatic and focused impact as part of #UMichVision2034. President Santa J. Ono joined Michigan Minds to discuss why this is a key priority for the university community: myumi.ch/nyy3R

Three Steps to Finding Agreement on America’s Toughest Problems

“ Despite the visibility of DEI rhetoric, research shows that institutions have not only failed to live up to their professed DEI and Indigenization commitments but have also persistently resisted efforts to prioritize structural changes that would advance these initiatives. “ . . . doesn’t surprise me that Universities are weaponizing EDI interventions to thwart actual change and dress it up. these are after all very prevalent tactics used within dominant culture and white supremacy thinking. Derailing initiatives that could counter oppressive tendencies and practices occurs outside of academia all the time- profit and non profit /social and private sector. well, these tactics had to be learned somewhere and those who teach model what is happening above them and around them. or what is being done to them. academia is perfect for teaching. academia is also not exempt of breathing the same toxic air the rest of us have to struggle in. so, who holds them accountable? who supports them to be performative in their attempts to grow? it’s not really the students… #Gaslighting #InstitutionalGaslighting

From “Momentum,” the 2023 Annual Report, read about summer bridge programs, which help incoming 9th-graders navigate the middle to high school transition: https://lnkd.in/eB8_aC8p Learn more about how you can get involved with RISE: https://bit.ly/3WTVdSH

Two main points that I want to make in this post: 1) The idea that "what got us here won't get us there" (thanks Marshall Goldsmith) is imperative to apply in education and especially higher education. What got us here will keep us here or even make here worse. We are suffering from an educational identity crisis in the United States. 2) If we are going to create more equitable access to education and support students who unfortunately (or intentionally because of the way education is funded in the United States) come from under-resourced school districts we need to embrace tools and technology that affords greater efficiencies and reach For me, it is essential to begin with the premise that "education is a means to an end." I would also suggest that the "end" of education is the ability to follow your dreams and passions, while at the same time being compensated in a way that promotes thrivability and prosperity. It's the interaction of self-discovery and capacity building. At Waukegan to College, we are exploring ways to leverage new tools and technology to support our students' dreams through a path to and through college (which is still an important path for most even though there is a lot of cynicism about the quality and cost of higher ed). We also want to challenge the status quo and elitism that is entrenched within higher education. While I disagree with a lot of the inflammatory rhetoric around "liberal education," there is a necessary reckoning that is happening in higher education. Two sources of some good ideas which can help us think about these challenges are: 1) How the US is destroying young people's future, a TED Talk by Scott Galloway. The most impactful quote for me, as he rebukes higher ed is: "When I applied to UCLA, the admissions rate was 76%. Today it's 9%...Berkely, decided to let me in with a 2.27 GPA (where he received an MBA). And that's what higher ed is about. Higher ed is about taking unremarkable kids and giving them a shot at being remarkable." You shouldn't have to prove you already know everything to get into college but prove you have hunger, hustle, and hope to learn and develop yourself. https://lnkd.in/g-F38R-q 2) Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education by @salman-khan Salman Khan. Everyone is talking about, predicting, and freaking out about AI. I appreciate Khan's assertion, "It's never a good idea to let fear stop you from exploring." I think that if we are going make a dent in the educational access work we are doing as a nonprofit, which can't compete with for-profit salaries and regularly struggles with more demand than capacity, we need to find tools like AI and use them. So if you are interested in helping us make it to the next level, on our way to our vision 1000 Dreams, we need brave, bold, and visionary people to join us as team members, volunteers, thought partners, and financial supporters!

𝟯 days to go until Day of Giving! Together let’s unlock a future of possibilities for HIS Students. #TomorrowsLeaders #IHSGivesBack #IHSDayofGiving Read the article here: https://ow.ly/kZsY50Q1bW2

Do you believe in giving young people the trust and autonomy they deserve? Discover how The Village @kingalfredsch supports students transitioning from childhood to adulthood, offering them the freedom to explore their identities and develop essential skills for the future. 📹 https://bit.ly/3QDse4f #NextBig10