Digital Learning Opportunities for Educators
Hello, educators! We had an amazing session on May 13 showcasing techniques on how to collaborate with colleagues, families, and communities across your campus and district. Our expert guest speakers from ACT and Bastrop ISD shared supportive resources and tips on how to create a solid foundation on college and career readiness. Here’s a brief recap of our session:
ACT:Dr. Nancy Lewin, Senior Director of Impact and Learning at ACT joined our session to share valuable insights and resources designed to help educators foster a culture of college and career readiness. These tools can support your efforts in guiding students through career planning and postsecondary preparation. ACT offers a wide range of free online resources to assist students in pursuing a college degree or a career and technical certification. Resources include short informational videos available in English and Spanish that cover college planning for each year of high school. Additionally, ACT offers a free educational game featuring real ACT practice questions to help your students prepare for the exam.
My Texas Future:
My Texas Future is reshaping how Texans plan for and access higher education. This tool was created to support middle and high school students in navigating their future career paths as well as support our adult learners that may be returning to school or transitioning between careers. Features include the Program Explorer, which helps learners research schools that offer the programs they are wanting to pursue, and Direct Admissions, which helps Texas residents find out which colleges they’re accepted to before they even apply by using their academic information with the admission requirements of Texas colleges.
My Texas Future Launch Kits:
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Texas OnCourse are offering Texas educators the opportunity to receive a My Texas Future Launch Kit when they use the My Texas Future site with middle or high school students. The launch kit includes:
- My Texas Future Charging Coaster for Educators
- My Texas Future Pen/Highlighters
- My Texas Future Student Stickers
You can request a launch kit by filling out this short form. Once you receive your launch kit, we encourage you to plan a learning event before the end of the 2024–2025 school year; send us photos of your students using the My Texas Future site during their learning and filling out a short feedback form after your event.
Creating a Future Ready Classroom with Texas OnCourse:
Michelle Sherman, P-TECH Specialist at Bastrop ISD, joined our session to share how using Texas OnCourse has helped create a stronger culture of planning and purpose on their campus. Sherman highlighted student activities inspired by Texas OnCourse, including a college pennant project where students chose a college or trade school and designed a pennant to represent their future goals. The project sparked meaningful conversations and helped build student engagement and investment in their postsecondary plans.
Professional Learning Series:
Thank you to everyone who attended or registered for a Professional Learning Series session this year! We're already planning for the 2025–2026 school year and are excited to share the new content we have in store. We look forward to continuing to support you in your college and career planning efforts with your students!
