Discovery Education and Arconic Foundation Launch ‘Manufacture Your Future Teacher Challenge’
Nationwide challenge invites educators to design an in-school experience that inspires the next generation of manufacturing leaders
Silver Spring, M.D., June 19, 2018 /3BL Media/– The accelerated advancement of technologies like 3-D printing, robotics and artificial intelligence welcomes a new realm of career possibilities in manufacturing for K-12 students. Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms and Arconic Foundation, the independently endowed philanthropic arm of Arconic, announced today the first-ever Manufacture Your Future Teacher Challenge. The program calls upon educators to inspire students in grades 3-12 to take the first step toward exploring and pursuing modern manufacturing careers.
Teachers working alone or in teams will create a video pitch and a written proposal for an in-school experience that will bring manufacturing careers to life for their students, and support them in exploring different career pathways in advanced manufacturing. The winner will receive a $5,000 grant to put the proposal into action at their school.
As manufacturing continues evolve and require new skill sets, employers are in need of qualified workers who are passionate about the industry. The Manufacture Your Future Teacher Challenge empowers educators to connect classroom-based STEM lessons to enriched, real-world career experiences so that students have opportunities to gain valuable workplace skills prior to graduation.
“Innovation is fundamental to manufacturing and this challenge aims to open students’ eyes to the endless possibilities available to them in advanced manufacturing,” said Arconic Foundation Vice President of Global Communications and Program Development Suzanne van de Raadt. “Teachers foster design thinking and creativity in the classroom that lends itself to innovation. We’re proud to partner with a like-minded organization like Discovery Education to inspire next wave of future manufacturing leaders.”
Written proposals from applicants must include the following:
- A description of the proposed in-school experience;
- A description of how a $5,000 grant would be used to implement the experience;
- Information about the individuals who will plan and host the event;
- A description of the intended student audience for the event;
- A list of critical resources, including at least one Manufacture Your Future resource; and
- An explanation of how the students will benefit from the experience, including how it will inspire them to explore different career pathways in advanced manufacturing.
“Learning experiences that encourage students to imagine unique solutions for their world outside the classroom are those that last a lifetime,” said Discovery Education Vice President of Corporate Education Partnerships at Discovery Education Kristin Hirst. “The ‘Manufacture Your Future’ program embodies our mission to transform learning by partnering with a leading organization like Arconic.”
In the fourth year of the program, the Arconic Foundation and Discovery Education escalate a collaborative effort to inspire the next generation of manufacturing leaders and innovators by introducing the teacher challenge. Through the Manufacture Your Future partnership, Arconic employees will also guide students through the development of 3D printed parts for commercial and space vehicles during a Virtual Field Trip on October 5 in honor of Manufacturing Day.
The Manufacture Your Future Teacher Challenge opens on June 18, 2018 and closes on October 19, 2018. To learn more, visit manufactureyourfuture.com. For more information about Discovery Education’s digital content and professional development services, visit discoveryeducation.com. Stay connected with Discovery Education on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @DiscoveryEd.
About Discovery Education
As the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional learning, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries around the globe. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.
About Arconic Foundation
Arconic Foundation supports programs that help prepare the 21st century engineering and advanced manufacturing workforce. Arconic Foundation is an independently endowed foundation with assets of approximately $320 million and is the charitable arm of Arconic, Inc. – which works in close partnership with customers to solve complex engineering challenges to transform the way we fly, drive, build and power. Through collaboration with our nonprofit partners, our initiatives make quality STEM education opportunities available to students; support engineering and technical skills training through community colleges, technical schools and universities around the world; and help to create access for underrepresented individuals to the STEM fields. The work of Arconic Foundation is further enhanced by the thousands of Arconic employee volunteers who share their talents and time to make a difference in their communities. Established in 2016, Arconic Foundation is active in 26 countries around the globe.
Contact
Charmion N. Kinder, Discovery Education
