Posts by bb4b_Pam

The fact that there are problems with the US education system is well known. Unfortunately, several of these issues are having very negative effects on the quality of the education our students are receiving. American students’ latest scores on the PISA (Programme of International Student Assessment), the international test taken by 15 year-olds around the world, show just how bad these problems are. Depending on the subject, American students are average or slightly below average compared to their international peers — ranking 17th in reading, 26th in math, and 21st in science. What’s wrong with the current education system? Here are two of the reasons: Students Don’t Have the Right Skills The US Education Department recently reported that the high school graduation rate is at an all-time high at 82 percent. However, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the largest standardized test administered in the United States, less than 40 percent of high school seniors in America have sufficient academic skills in math and reading to pass entry-level college courses. Additionally, a study released by the Education Trust concluded that “rather than ensuring students have access to a cohesive curriculum that aligns high school coursework and students’ future goals, high schools are prioritizing credit accrual, which treats graduation as the end goal.” Students Aren’t Exposed to Career Options Not only do students lack the skills to succeed after high school, they also aren’t given the necessary exposure to all of the options that exist after graduation, whether it be college or a technical trade. While high school students shouldn’t necessarily nail down a specific career path, they should be exploring their interests and personality in order to develop a general idea. That way, when the time comes to pick a career path, they can choose something relevant and fulfilling. If we want students to be prepared for highly skilled jobs in the foreseeable future, it is essential that they are able to explore the possibilities before they graduate. Without these opportunities, students will be left feeling aimless. To prepare students for the future, we must empower them with the skills that help foster success after graduation. Programs like U can B are dedicated to assisting in the mission for improved education. U can B uses the real-world expertise of entrepreneurs and businesspeople to give students the chance to see what life is like after high school and college. The U can B Curriculum is tailored to meet each individual school’s needs, which means each curriculum component can be expanded or contracted to fit within a specific number of weeks based on the strengths and weaknesses of the class. In order to best prepare students for the future, the U can B curriculum includes Entrepreneurship, Networking, Careers in the Trades, Technology, Film, Television, Science, and more. The statistics don’t lie, change is needed in the US education system. If we work together, we can give students the tools to become the innovators of tomorrow....

  U can B @ Clayton High School will conclude in May with ‘Career Days at Clayton High’! Career Days will begin with an Interview Competition on May 1th. This will be followed by an in-school Career Fair on May 20th. The Building Bridges for Business U can B Program, a series of career awareness classes aimed at high school and middle school students, launched its first classes at Clayton Academy in Pittsburgh’s North Side on March 2, 2016. U can B classes at Clayton were provided through support of the Verizon Foundation. Topics for middle and high school students ranged from Career Interests to STEM-related Careers to Job Readiness Classes. Students in the middle school were registered for FREE online career profiles via STEM Premier. Students in the high school at Clayton focused specifically on topics such as Work Readiness, Job Search, Interview Skills, and Networking in preparation for Career Days. May 11th Interview Day Students are currently working on resumes and cover letters as a class project. These will be completed and reviewed by Clayton teachers prior to the Interview Day. On May 11th, students will participate in a panel style interview. U can B teachers, Clayton staff, and volunteers from the community will make up three panels. Students will cycle through for individual interviews. A scoring rubric will be used by the panelists to assess students’ interview performance. Three Awards will be selected: Best Interview, Best Resume, Best Cover Letter. Certificates and prizes will be presented to the winners. Certificates of Participation are to be presented to all students who completed the U can B Program. Winners to be announced at the May 20th Career Fair. May 20th Career Fair The U can B team has organized a Career Fair which will take place at Clayton on May 20th between 10:00-12:00. The Fair will be followed by a cookout and celebration. Students, teachers, U can B staff, employers, and volunteers are invited to attend the cookout. Approximately 65 students are expected. Awards will be presented during the cookout and celebration. The Career Fair and Cookout will be a wonderful way to conclude the school year. Students have put a lot of time and effort into the U can B Program at Clayton, and the May 20th event is their reward for that hard work. In addition to the celebration, students will have the opportunity to discuss jobs and careers with representatives from several Pittsburgh-area businesses including but not limited to United States Probation & Pretrial Services of Western PA, Allegheny Health Network, IBEX Global, Career Talk on KDKA, Legal Shield, and Arias Agencies. Arias Agencies, a division of American Income Life, has agreed to participate and present certificates of completion to the students. Title sponsor of Career Talk on KDKA, Arias Agencies has been an on-going supporter and hiring partner of the...

Description of Services – U Can B Group Sessions U Can B group sessions include a variety of activities designed to engage students of all backgrounds, levels of ability, interests, and skill level. The classroom sessions offer learning experiences through a number of hands-on and lecture-based presentations. Topic areas include the following: 1.) Work Readiness & Soft Skills – U Can B teachers and guest speakers offer a plethora of content related to work readiness and soft skills. Through video, lecture and activity, students learn about Teamwork, Communication, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Professionalism, Interview Skills, and Workplace Culture. 2.) Networking & Job Search – U Can B students learn from teachers and local HR representatives the most up-to-date and effective job searching techniques. These include Networking, Using Social Media, Using Social Media Responsibly, How to Work a Job Fair, Job Applications, Resume Writing, and more! 3.) Career Awareness – U Can B guest speakers provide students with first-hand career awareness and exposure to careers in IT, Health Care, Film & Media, Green & Sustainable, Veterinarian & Animal Care, Trades, Government & Politics, and Entrepreneurship. 4.) Basic IT Skills – Through the use and access to O*Net Online (a DOL career exploration database), Career Talk on KDKA, and other technologies, U Can B students have an opportunity to enhance and/or improve basic IT skills. The U Can B Program supplements classroom learning with other activities designed to educate students, give students exposure to the world of work, and to generate potential employment opportunities for high school students and/or soon-to-be graduates. U Can B services are for sure unique. The program stands alone in that it currently operates in local schools and interacts daily with the local business community. U Can B services offer a unique educational experience to local high school and middle schools students while simultaneously serving as the bridge between young, local talent and employers in the public and private sectors who are seeking the next generation of Pittsburgh’s talented...

PRESS RELEASE Aziksa, Inc. Partners with Pittsburgh based U can B to Provide Access to Life Learning Courses for High School Students Students can learn about Entrepreneurship, STEM, Trades, Politics, and More Pittsburgh, PA, May 2, 2016: Aziksa, Inc., a strategic learning platform company, inked a multi-year contract to provide a cloud based, blended learning system to U can B (Building Bridges) to expand access to courses that will allow local students to learn more about life after high school and college. The blended learning partnership will allow students to take courses online and via their mobile phones and devices at a significantly reduced cost.  This is a new blended learning partnership. “We are excited to work with U can B and the Building Bridges for Business organization,” said Aziksa President and CEO Santosh Jha. “We are committed to offering easy to use classes to young people and this partnership will allow more students to take advantage of the U can B offerings. Students can expand on their formal classroom learning by taking courses in entrepreneurship, science and technology, green and sustainable science, and a variety of trades.” The Aziksa (www.aziksa.com) cloud based, blended learning platform is designed specifically to enhance interaction between students and teachers in the online atmosphere by using the Virtual Classroom and Virtual Lab to maximize contact between the instructors and the learners. Students can sign-up online and participate in the courses from the comfort of their home and still take advantage of the many benefits of interacting with fellow learners and the instructors. Students can even access the class sessions and course with their mobile device to accommodate those on the go. “We are very pleased to be working with Aziksa. They really understand how best to deliver online learning in today’s world and I know students will benefit from the increased interaction. We looked at many blended learning options and we think Aziksa offers the best choice for our purposes,” said Linda Handley, Founder of U Can B. Entrepreneurs and businesspeople, along with the non-profit organization Building Bridges for Business, are giving local students the chance to see what life is like after high school and college. The U can B curriculum is tailored to meet your school’s needs and includes a variety of life learning courses like entrepreneurship, website design and SEO, graphic design and animation, veterinarian study and animal related careers, career preparation and networking, and green and sustainable practices and careers. The program further engages the students with our proprietary Coffee With Film series, which showcases industry leaders and politicians with a variety of insight in those careers. The program is augmented by In person speakers and experts that share real world experiences and advice in career development and planning. For more information about U can B and the Building Bridges initiative, please visit their website at https://buildingbridgesforbusiness.org or send an email to info@BuildingBridgesforBusiness.org. Building Bridges/U can B is located at 625 Stanwix Street, #1605, in Pittsburgh, PA...

All young students should be prepared to think critically so that they have the skills to become the innovators, educators, and leaders of tomorrow. In order to advance our society, the next generation needs the ability to create the innovations that can solve the most pressing challenges facing our nation and our world. Giving students a solid foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is an important piece of preparing them for success beyond school. 1. STEM Prepares Students to Think Critically Even for students who are not planning to pursue a career in STEM, the skills that these disciplines teach students remains relevant. The key to success in any career is knowing how to think critically. These subjects teach students how to think critically and how to solve problems — skills that can be used throughout life to help them get through tough times and take advantage of opportunities whenever they appear. Having a strong set of STEM skills gives students the ability to analyze the world around them, make strategic decisions, and find ways to make improvements. 2. STEM Careers are Growing For students with an interest in pursuing a career in STEM after high school graduation, the future looks bright. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, science, technology, engineering, and math occupations are growing at 17%, while other occupations are growing at 9.8%. On top of this, The National Science Foundation estimates that 80% of jobs available for the years to come will require math and science skills. Additionally, STEM degree holders have a higher income even in non-STEM careers. 3. Making the US and the World a Better Place According to 2012 statistics from the National Math and Science Initiative, there are 26 and 19 industrialized nations that perform better than U.S. students in math and science, respectively. Today that number of the world’s scientists and engineers that reside in the US has shrunk to about 15%. Exposing students to STEM subjects and careers early on is a powerful way to strengthen our country’s global competitiveness and create new innovations that propel society forward. By extending the STEM pipeline from elementary school through high school, students are given the opportunities to establish a bright future for themselves, as well as the world. Thanks to programs like U can B, entrepreneurs and businesspeople are giving students the chance to see what life is like after high school and college. U can B exposes children grades 6-12 to STEM subjects, creating an educational environment that not only values excellence in math and science, but excellence in creativity, innovation, and...