EdTech Today

Anthony Salcito doesn’t want things to go back to normal. Rather, he wants things to get better. As VP of Worldwide Education at Microsoft, he has navigated the company’s response to the pandemic across the planet. In this episode of EdTech Today, Anthony examines the new tools and techniques used in this massive beta test of remote learning and suggests how education can build upon the experiences of this crisis.

Anthony Salcito doesn’t want things to go back to normal. Rather, he wants things to get better. As VP of Worldwide Education at Microsoft, he has navigated the company’s response to the pandemic across the planet. In this episode of EdTech Today, Anthony examines the new tools and techniques used in this massive beta test of remote learning and suggests how education can build upon the experiences of this crisis.

Microsoft Education posted a list of remote classroom solutions

Bringing the online classroom to life for students

It’s important for students to see their teacher and classmates at the same time during remote learning. That’s why Teams expanded to a 7×7 Gallery View, allowing up to 49 students to be visible on video at one time.

Another way to mimic the classroom setting is through Together Mode. An alternative to Gallery View, this feature has brought students out of their individual tiles and transported them into a shared setting—whether that’s a virtual auditorium, conference room, or coffee shop.

A smaller setting can also help foster student participation. Breakout Rooms have helped students work within smaller groups for a discussion or assignment, just like they would in an in-person classroom.

The new Spotlight feature has allowed teachers to control the main video feed that students see during class. This can help students focus on the presenter, rather than on the many faces on the screen.

It has also been critical to provide students with the right devices during remote and hybrid learning. Windows 10 devices have been crucial in giving reliable, secure technology to learn from anywhere.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the nation's economy, with 13.6 million Americans out of work in August 2020. According to McKinsey, even before the current crisis, evolving technologies and new ways of working were disrupting jobs and the skills employees needed to do them. This shift, coupled with a dramatic split in college attendance between higher and lower income students, has accelerated the need for programs that can bridge the gap for untapped talent with non-traditional backgrounds.

"This has been an unpredictable, and uncertain year, but it's also compelled people to hone in on what's most important. For many organizations, that's taking action to hire, support and retain a diverse and inclusive workforce," said Jennifer Carlson, co-founder and executive director, Apprenti. "Closing these gaps helps lift our economy as we recover from the pandemic and also builds organizations that look more like the communities in which they operate. This contract from the Department of Labor solidifies the continued need for our program, and apprenticeship as a national system, allowing us to expand our proven model and create jobs during a time it's needed most."

Apprenti, Washington State's first registered tech apprenticeship program, announced this fall that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded it a $7.5 million, five-year contract to continue its nationwide expansion. The program is the nation's first registered tech apprenticeship program that places diverse talent into top tech roles across the U.S. Apprenti offers a proven, reliable pipeline for underrepresented groups, bridging the talent gap and giving diverse talent with nontraditional backgrounds the opportunity to apprentice at some of the top companies in the world.

Apprenti currently operates in 16 U.S. markets. Apprenti has placed more than 1,000 apprentices nationwide at top companies including Microsoft, Wayfair, and JPMorgan Chase. More than and 80 percent of these apprentices have been retained or hired post-apprenticeship with significantly higher salaries than previous employment. For example, apprentices in Washington State earn an average salary of $87,209n in their first year after graduation, which is a 114% increase based on their income prior to the program.

This news comes on the heels of a momentous year for Apprenti. The organization expanded to three new markets — New Jersey, Kansas, and Delaware — due to increased employer demand. Apprenti has also signed on over 20 new hiring partners in 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the nation's economy, with 13.6 million Americans out of work in August 2020. According to McKinsey, even before the current crisis, evolving technologies and new ways of working were disrupting jobs and the skills employees needed to do them. This shift, coupled with a dramatic split in college attendance between higher and lower income students, has accelerated the need for programs that can bridge the gap for untapped talent with non-traditional backgrounds.

"This has been an unpredictable, and uncertain year, but it's also compelled people to hone in on what's most important. For many organizations, that's taking action to hire, support and retain a diverse and inclusive workforce," said Jennifer Carlson, co-founder and executive director, Apprenti. "Closing these gaps helps lift our economy as we recover from the pandemic and also builds organizations that look more like the communities in which they operate. This contract from the Department of Labor solidifies the continued need for our program, and apprenticeship as a national system, allowing us to expand our proven model and create jobs during a time it's needed most."

Apprenti, Washington State's first registered tech apprenticeship program, announced this fall that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded it a $7.5 million, five-year contract to continue its nationwide expansion. The program is the nation's first registered tech apprenticeship program that places diverse talent into top tech roles across the U.S. Apprenti offers a proven, reliable pipeline for underrepresented groups, bridging the talent gap and giving diverse talent with nontraditional backgrounds the opportunity to apprentice at some of the top companies in the world.

Apprenti currently operates in 16 U.S. markets. Apprenti has placed more than 1,000 apprentices nationwide at top companies including Microsoft, Wayfair, and JPMorgan Chase. More than and 80 percent of these apprentices have been retained or hired post-apprenticeship with significantly higher salaries than previous employment. For example, apprentices in Washington State earn an average salary of $87,209n in their first year after graduation, which is a 114% increase based on their income prior to the program.

This news comes on the heels of a momentous year for Apprenti. The organization expanded to three new markets — New Jersey, Kansas, and Delaware — due to increased employer demand. Apprenti has also signed on over 20 new hiring partners in 2020.

In December, AT&T marked its third-annual Pitches with Purpose Event, celebrating the innovation and growth of eight ed-tech startups, receiving mentoring, resources and development through its Aspire Accelerator program to create solutions for the diverse needs of today’s students.

As the solutions from this minority and women-led cohort shows, the future of education, in the wake of COVID-19, demands more diverse perspectives than ever to develop more inclusive solutions for every student – regardless of backgrounds, needs and experiences.

Eight education technology companies graduated from the Aspire Accelerator and competed in an all-virtual “Shark Tank” style “Pitches with Purpose” for two $25,000 prizes – one awarded by a panel of AT&T executive judges and another voted on by AT&T employees and for the first time, the general public.

In the end, Social Cipher won the general public and employee vote with their captivating, fast-paced 3-minute pitch. They create video games that give players who are autistic a safe space to practice social situations and build social-emotional skills through play. “It feels amazing to win Pitches with Purpose, and it's so wonderful to see that there's so much support for our mission out there,” said Vanessa Castañeda Gill, founder of Social Cipher. “We've been through so many challenges this year–we've come out so much stronger with the help of the AT&T Aspire Accelerator and the incredible founders in this cohort. We're beyond excited to take on what's next with this funding!”

The Aspire Accelerator was created in 2015 as part AT&T Aspire, a $600 million commitment since 2008 that leverages technology, relationships and innovation to improve education and prepare students for career success. Program participants have included 70% women-led companies and 51% minority-led companies.

The 2020 Accelerator class shows how women and minority-led startups are transforming education, offering virtual solutions to the toughest issues facing students today: educational equity, disengagement in learning and lack of support for students with disabilities. And as educators look towards 2021, lessons from COVID-19 and distance learning will also drive the future of education. Key among these lessons is the need for diverse perspective to fuel innovation for more inclusive solutions regardless of backgrounds, needs and experiences.

Learn more about the 2020 Accelerator class and why diverse perspectives are so important to the future of education in Charlene Lake’s LinkedIn post here.