While a high school diploma was once sufficient to secure a stable job with benefits, almost two-thirds of new jobs in the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. economy now require some postsecondary education and/or training. To prepare its students for life after high school, Irving Independent School District (ISD) in Texas will implement WIN Learning’sPersonalized Career Readiness System.
WIN Learning’s web-based, career-driven education model comprises a series of standards-aligned learning modules that help students prepare for college and the workplace through personalized project-based learning and career exploration.
“Our goal is simple – every student should graduate from our high schools ready for college or a career. That means mastery of applied academics as well as necessary ‘success skills’ such as critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork,” said Melody Paschall, associate superintendent of academic services, Irving ISD.”
The research-based Career-Driven Education model offers a three-pronged approach to prepare students for today’s global economic opportunities and challenges. With the career exploration system WIN Strategic Compass®, students can analyze current and projected labor market data to reveal career pathways. The program’s Initial Skills Review™ measures individual career readiness and skill development gaps, which leads to the WIN Career Readiness® Courseware, offering instruction through applied academics for workplace skill mastery.
The system also includes the recently launched WIN Soft Skills Series®, a program which builds skills mastery around the behavioral, attitudinal, social, and readiness skills employers and post-secondary programs require. WIN Soft Skills will provide Irving ISD educators with a curricular framework to teach their middle and high school students foundational behaviors such as conveying professionalism, communicating effectively, promoting teamwork and collaboration, thinking critically and solving problems. Attitudinal skills addressed in the courseware are revealed within the context of the workplace, to provide relevancy to the learning experience.
Irving ISD will begin their implementation by having 8th grade students complete the Initial Skills Review during the 2012-2013 school year. Beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, rising ninth and tenth grade students will use the Career Readiness and Soft Skills direct instruction courseware to advance basic workplace and college readiness skills.
