Virtual Real World Learning through Nepris
Bristol Warren teachers utilize the Nepris platform to facilitate virtual Real World Learning lessons in a variety of content areas and contexts. Nepris connects educators with a network of industry professionals to engage students in their learning and prepare them for their future. Teachers can join live, virtual chats with professionals on a variety of topics, request virtual guest speakers, and browse and use a collection of industry videos.
Connections to Real World Learning Roadmap
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Vision
Real World Learning provides all students with opportunities to connect and apply learning beyond the classroom in meaningful and authentic ways while engaging with experts in the field. We use Real World Learning to make learning more engaging and relevant for students, build their awareness of potential careers, and provide work-based learning and mentoring experiences. We believe that our students need exposure to a business community that prepares them for life beyond primary and secondary school.
Implementation: How We Did It
We first developed a consistent, district-wide understanding of Real World Learning and its implications. We sent out a survey to all teachers asking them to define Real World Learning, gathered responses, and created a focus group to produce an operational definition. We use this definition to implement RWL lessons and link students to opportunities.
We were introduced to the Nepris platform through a Digital Promise Challenge Collaborative. After learning about the platform, we introduced it to teachers. They can use it to connect students with professionals via video calls, so that lessons taught in the classroom are tied to the skills and knowledge necessary for students’ future careers. These video calls solidify relevance, provide opportunities for mentoring, and improve student learning outcomes. Following the video sessions, students are excited about learning and feel more inclined to develop their own real-world applications for the topics covered.
Related Resources
Community Partners
Curriculum
Measures
Professional Learning
Community Partners
After establishing a district-wide definition of Real World Learning, we reached out to Nepris to begin applying it with teachers and students.
We also reached out to partners at the state level to discover collaborative opportunities. We connected directly with the Career Pathways division of the Rhode Island Governor’s Workforce Board to find opportunities to advocate for Real World Learning at all school levels. This helped us develop a network of stakeholders, which includes our Chamber of Commerce, the RI Career Coordinators Network, the Bristol Warren Education Foundation, and PrepareRI. Through this network, we’re able to share successes and challenges around supporting Real World Learning. We also created a presentation video about Real World Learning to share with stakeholders. This video furthered the interest of stakeholders and created additional buy-in.
Curriculum
We have expanded student participation in real-world and virtual opportunities to connect students with qualified specialists in specific fields of study that align with classroom curriculum. Educators send out requests via Nepris to the business community on topics such as Algebra, Business Development, and Business and Marketing.
Measures
To measure the impact of our initiatives, we look at the number of students who have participated in one or more types of RWL. Different types of opportunities range from participating in local commercial and governmental internships, online courses, the PrepareRI program, and other project-based learning experiences. Since we started this initiative, roughly 23 percent of our students have participated in one or more types of RWL.
Professional Learning
We have shared the Nepris platform and the Real World Learning Roadmap with our staff. We’ve also shared resources from XQ that are relevant to Real World Learning. At staff meetings, educators have time to explain their successes and challenges and address any issues as a team. We also engage our administrators and parents to develop community buy-in.
Support Structures
Giving teachers dedicated time to discuss RWL allows them to discuss what that they found particularly successful or frustrating. This also creates space for collaboration and sharing.
We invite administrators to observe lessons that involve RWL so that they can recognize the value of the program. To keep parents engaged, we send out schoolwide and parent emails with supplemental lesson bites and explanations of the RWL mission statement.
Our initial funding for Nepris was provided through the Challenge Collaborative. We’re currently exploring whether we can use a grant from XQ to cover the costs moving forward. Our Career Coordinator position is funded through Perkins.
The Future of this Work
While we have made contact and involved many local establishments already, expanding our partnership network will ultimately support Real World Learning in all content areas. Different establishments will be able to provide even more relevant real world learning lessons. We want to onboard more community partners and help them see that participation can range from 150 hours of internships to a single, simple virtual call.
