Our vision for our project is to bring a holistic learning model to education that is powered by technology.
Although high quality test prep is essential to reducing college debt, most educational institutions focus solely on standardized testing, often ignoring key developmental factors. This one dimensional approach to learning causes students to frequently change majors and to be unprepared for life after graduation.
Why vocational development?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 80% of college students change their major at least once, with the average student switching majors about three times. Frequent major changes cause students to stay in college longer, increasing college debt and reducing time spent networking and building critical vocational experiences.
This uncertainty often follows students into the workplace, with many unaware of the day to day realities of working within their chosen field. Young graduates also report not learning the technical and transferable skills needed to successfully navigate their chosen profession while in school. These factors make it difficult for students to compete in an increasingly demanding marketplace. In addition to neglecting vocational development, traditional learning models completely ignore emotional wellness in education.
Emotional Wellness: The Missing Factor in Education
It is clear that young adults today face unprecedented stresses due to factors like the rise of social media, gun violence, a declining economy and increasingly competitive work and school requirements. Yet our education system is not teaching students the tools they need to cope with stress, build self confidence and foster positive personal relationships with others.
The American Psychological Association survey shows that since 2013, teens have reported higher levels of stress and anxiety than adults. Likewise, the 2018 APA survey suggests that these trends are becoming more prevalent, reporting that teens have worse mental health and higher levels of stress and anxiety than all other age groups. The pandemic has only worsened mental health challenges as the Education Trust reports that 8 out of 10 parents and students are reporting increased levels of stress after 2020.
Your support will allow us to bring emotional intelligence to the forefront as we develop our emotional wellness course introducing students to mindfulness practices that mitigate stress, increase self awareness and build healthy interpersonal relationships. Now more than ever it is important that emotional wellness is regarded as a key factor for both personal and professional success.
Your donation will allow us to launch our virtual platform - focusing on test prep, vocational development and emotional wellness courses to ensure we support students to reach their fullest potential.
All funds raised will support us to:
- Continue R&D to launch our redesigned AI/ML powered SAT test prep course by December 2021
- Develop our virtual platform and user application
- Create more AL/ML 'self learning' courses focused on test prep, vocational development and emotional intelligence.
- Provide early access to our SAT program for 500 'at risk' students at no charge from selected schools.