Learning Pathways
The Learning Pathways Project is a city-wide effort that aspires to help youth connect skills developed during out-of-school experiences to the pursuit of a high school degree, post-secondary attainment and ultimately a livable wage.
To support the growth of the Learning Pathways Project, Big Thought is offering a 3 month Fellowship program designed to help out-of-school providers identify, measure, and elevate skills youth develop during their programs.
Past Learning Pathways Organizations share their experiences:
“For me as a leader, as an arts leader, it’s making sure that we’re designing our programming not just so students can learn our particular discipline, but look further out,” shared Tiffany Jackson, Director of Education at Bishop Arts Theatre Center. “How can they use these things that are taught to them in the future? Are these skills that they’re learning transferable?”
“The experience was helpful and very informative as well as transformative in the way we look at delivering and learning skills, and bringing out the gifts within our participants.”
“This project was something that elevated the work that we do by giving us a platform to speak to what the young people actually learn. It allowed us to do more than scratch the surface of what our programs are doing and, for us, raised the bar for what we originally saw for our program – going from a local to global possibilities.”
“I see this as a way to communicate to parents that design thinking, that entrepreneurial skillsets, that problem-solving are skills that all girls are going to be able to apply, whether they own a business, lead a business or work for a business,” shared DeShawn Robinson-Chew, Founder, SheEO Academy.
The Learning Pathways Fellowship is best suited for organizations that
1
offer programming to youth ages 13 and up that includes some amount of live/synchronous instruction, either virtual or in-person.
2
require each youth in the program produce an artifact that is representation of their learning.
3
are invested in developing criteria and measuring the development of skills.
4
identify with at least one of the following categories:
- STEM or STEAM
- Health and Wellness
- College and Career Readiness
- Arts
- Social Justice or Advocacy
The Fellowship Commitment
The Fellowship program starts in late March and runs through early June
Fellows will commit to
- Five 90 minute seminars
- Completing prep work in advance of each seminar
-
Leveraging Office Hours with your Learning Pathways Coach
Meet the Learning Pathways Fellows
- Bold Idea
- Excellence by Design Education Center
- EAGLE Scholars Program
- Urban Dreams Music and Arts Program
- Dallas United Crew
The Creator Archetype
The Creator Archetype™ provides the foundation for Learning Pathways, outlining the skills, competencies and experiences that equip and empower youth to create their best lives and world.
- The Creator Archetype
- Social and Emotional Foundation
- Academics and Artistry
- Digital Fluency
- Design Thinking
- Civics and Service