Generation Change Makers

Generation Change Makers is an easy-to-use online platform with programs that empower the youngest learners to pursue careers in STEM and entrepreneurship later in life. With Generation Change Makers, individuals of all training levels and backgrounds can give kids the opportunity to see themselves in these careers.

1. Youth (ages 5-14), especially low income, don’t feel like they can pursue STEM careers.

   1. Studies show that children under 13 already think they can’t do certain jobs.

   2. Globally, STEM careers are the fastest growing jobs

2. Instructors without formal training do not feel equipped to teach about 21st century topics (e.g., STEM careers, entrepreneurship).

   1. In many countries, 75% of teachers do not have teacher certifications and only receive training on teaching math and reading.

3. Instructors do not feel confident using technology.

   1. Studies show that 56% of older teachers lacked confidence using technology in the classroom.

By 2022, there will be 9 million more STEM job opportunities. Because of these trends, kids need to be introduced to STEM careers and other 21st century topics from an early age so that they can compete in the global workforce. However, most children do not see themselves pursuing these career paths because they do not have access to STEM education nor see other adults in these professions. Generation Change Makers fills the gaps by providing accessible 21st century programs (e.g., entrepreneurship, financial literacy) to kids so that they will feel confident pursuing these careers later in life.

Youth and instructors will benefit from Generation Change Makers. Youth will learn about STEM career options, such as architects, engineers, entrepreneurs, and designers and feel empowered that they can pursue these careers. Instructors in all settings (schools, community centers, clinics) will feel confident and prepared to teach youth about STEM careers and other 21st century topics. Our solution will be deployed by partnering with national organizations and governments committed to empowering youth to be successful global citizens.  Additionally, teaching goes beyond the classroom, so we will offer digital consumer products that can used by parents, community leaders, students and more.

Track the number of instructors using programs and frequency of use (tracked through analytics). Instructors will complete questionnaires on their confidence levels, perceived usefulness of materials, and changes in their student’s scores. - By 2020, 100,000 instructors worldwide are using Generation Change Makers’ materials.

Track the number of children using programs based on analytics. Rozzy will select a cohort of 500-1000 children and track the skills and content they learned. This data will provide longitudinal and cross-sectional information on program efficacy. - By 2020, 2 million children ages 3-14 will engage with Generation Change Makers programs and products.

Rozzy will track what subjects Generation Change Maker study in college and what careers they go into and compare this data against previous years data. - By 2030, there will be a 15% increase in the number of kids worldwide pursuing STEM careers and related fields.

1. Career Readiness for Youngest Learners: Children ages 5-14 are empowered to learn about STEM careers.

2. Low Tech, High Impact: Our platform is easy to use. 98% of instructors report they confidently use Rozzy’s technology.

3. Any Teacher, Anywhere: Instructors without formal training use our programs. 45% of current Rozzy instructors do not have teacher certifications. Of these instructors, 100% report that they use the programs successfully.

4. Accessible Technology: Our online platform allows instructors and youth to easily access all programs and materials from any device.

Generation Change Makers was designed with our user in mind. After getting feedback from hundreds of educators, we know that they want easy-to-use products that do not require extensive training. Our instructors can log onto our platform, view a quick training video, and be ready to teach within minutes.

We are also constantly improving our user experience based on feedback. For example, we reformatted the length of our lessons so they can be implemented in more frequent, shorter sessions. We also added digital books to each program after receiving requests for literacy resources.

Users access Generation Change Makers through an online platform from any device. Schools, communities, and individuals can purchase access to Generation Change Makers. We will partner with corporate sponsors who can provide Internet and device access when needed. We will also partner with governments and organizations to coordinate implementation of Generation Change Makers in community centers and schools. To increase accessibility, we will translate Generation Change Makers to the languages of our target regions and provide training on how to implement the products with kids of varying learning needs.

We currently sell our individual programs (e.g., STEM program; entrepreneurship program) to schools and organizations in over 20 states across the United States and other countries. One-hundred percent of our clients renewed their year-long licenses, demonstrating that our clients love our products. We have also begun working with international organizations. We recently signed a deal with a 400 location international education system and have received interest from governments in the Caribbean and Asia. In addition, we are developing consumer products for individual families and teachers to diversify revenue streams while we grow. Taken together, these successes demonstrate our ability to financially sustain ourselves as we grow Generation Change Makers.  

Our main limiting factor is connecting with key decision makers who can influence purchasing decisions. We’ve received feedback from organizations in Asia and the Caribbean that our products are perfect for their markets because of our “low tech, high impact” model and focus on 21st-century learning. However, it’s hard to determine who the best contact person is at these organizations and how to implement it on regional levels. We believe that the resources and network MIT Solve provides will help us learn how to access these countries and work with education leaders to bring Generation Change Makers to communities.

https://twitter.com/rozzyandfriends

We are applying to Solve to build a network of mentors and colleagues to take Rozzy to the next level. In 18 months, we have sold our programs to schools and organizations in over 20 states and 2 countries. We believe Solve can help us strategically target the international market and find ways to better position our solution in communities. Additionally, we want to brainstorm with fellow Solvers on how to improve our products/business model and collaborate on projects. Ultimately, our goal is to help communities give youth the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century workplace.

• Capital Innovators (a top business accelerator): They provided expertise on how to develop Rozzy’s entrepreneurship program for kids.

• FasTracKids: A preschool franchise with 400+ locations worldwide.  

• We have partnered with education non-profits (e.g., Ready Readers, Headstart) committed to bringing high-quality education to low-income areas.

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