NESC You're Hired! - Fall 2021 Recap
The NESC brought You're Hired! to more than 1,000 students in the fall and early winter of 2021, allowing them to experience STEAM and the application of 21st Century Skills through group problem solving of present-day issues. Students worked as teams (companies) to find unique solutions and then presented their proposals to a boardroom. Through strong research and planning, innovative design, and persuasive presentation, teams heard the words, "You're Hired!"
You're Hired! can be an introduction to project or problem-based learning. There is no right answer to the problem presented within each of the You're Hired! modules. These problems are designed to engage students in the 4Cs (communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking) and STEAM. With this event, the process is more important than the product, although the students delight in showcasing the product!
The NESC facilitated synchronous and asynchronous events for schools across the NESC and North Dakota with the support of the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund!
- 777 students, grades 6-12, from 12 districts!
- 226 students, grades 3-5, from 8 districts!
- 8 state partners (a.k.a. "board members")!
EDUCATOR REFLECTIONS
Survey Results (n=8):
- 100% see the YH! event as a valuable experience for students.*
- 87.5% observed students growing and practicing the 4Cs.*
- 100% have interest in the use of future problem-based learning opportunities for students.*
- 87.5% report the YH! event as a supplement/support to current 4Cs curriculum.*
- 75% report the YH! event as a supplement/support to current college and career exploration efforts.*
- 75% report the YH! event as a supplement/support to current collaborations with community members.*
*Responded with "strongly agree" or "agree."
What do you see as the greatest impact of the YH! event on your students?
"The collaboration aspect is awesome. The students need to work together to solve the task, and that is such an important skill they need in the real world."
"The greatest impact is probably growing students' confidence in their abilities. At the beginning of the day, most don't 'get it' and are nervous to present. By the end of the day, they've seen that they CAN think outside-of-the-box to develop solutions, plus...they are excited to tell someone about what they've done!"
STUDENT REFLECTIONS
Survey Results (n=103)
- 78% reported the YH! event helped them grow and practice COLLABORATION skills.*
- 70% reported the YH! event helped them grow and practice COMMUNICATION skills.*
- 80% reported the YH! event helped them grow and practice CREATIVITY skills.*
- 69% reported the YH! event helped them grow and practice CRITICAL THINKING skills.*
*Responded with "strongly agree" or "agree."
What are you most proud of after completing today's YH! event?
"We learned to work together."
"Presenting well."
"Getting everything done and being on task."
"I'm most proud of how we communicated and how we put everything together so well."
"How my team worked with each other to present our finished product."