Empowering Texas Students: How CTeLearning Courses Strengthen Your CCMR Program

In recent months, the team at CTeLearning has been hard at work revising our popular Ethics in the Workplace curriculum and certification. Designed in partnership with Web Professionals Global , the professional association for all web careers, this micro-credential is a valuable opportunity for students to build a well-rounded professional profile that combines technical skills and a professional portfolio with essential workplace ethics knowledge. The curriculum is designed with real-world application in mind, preparing students for the ethical challenges they'll face in professional environments. We ensure learners are well-prepared to navigate both the technical and professional aspects of modern workplaces, making them more attractive candidates to employers who value both competency and integrity. Students who work through the curriculum earn the certification after completing all required coursework. Warren Buffett has stated that he looks for three qualities when hiring: integrity, intelligence, and energy. He noted that without integrity, the other two traits "will kill you," underscoring the foundational importance of ethical behavior. Let’s take a look at the Ethics in the Workplace certification and the key changes we have made for 2025-2026. Background on the Certification Over a decade ago, we developed the first version of the Ethics in the Workplace curriculum. This came after years of our teachers struggling with teaching ethics in their classrooms. Since everything we do is wrapped up in the context of a career experience, we knew that we could deliver ethics in a practical and direct manner. We decided to dive even deeper into this idea when two new hires straight out of college came to work for us. No need to go into detail, but let’s just say we saw firsthand what happens when you have people who you assume understand the basics of ethical behavior. I (Steve) can still remember the conversation when my head of development came into my office and sat down with me to tell me a story of what she had discovered. In short, we had to fire the new employees and clean up the mess they left. However, this gave us the extra boost to develop our first ethics module. This internal training became the basis for what we dropped into every career pathway course we delivered to teachers and students. A few years later, we partnered with Web Professionals Global to have this micro-credential endorsed, and the rest is history. New Features for 2025-2026 As all our clients know, we are constantly updating our content. All areas of career and technical education (CTE) are always changing, so we keep adapting as part of our commitment to our teachers. In recent years, we had conversations with teachers who do not teach CTE pathways like web design, web game design, or animation but still wanted to teach ethics to their students. They asked us to deliver the Ethics in the Workplace certification as a standalone course, which makes sense considering it is important to be ethical in the workplace across all career pathways. As a result, our course can now be utilized in any class. It is designed to work with PC, Mac and Chromebooks. It is incredibly easy to facilitate with plenty of touch points teachers may choose to use to expand the learning experience and customize it to suit their students’ needs. AI has dramatically affected ethics in professional settings, and our most recent version includes a new section to teach students about the reality of AI and its use in the workplace. This topic also is good for students to understand as the same ethical approach to using AI in the workplace should be applied to using AI as it relates to school. We also revamped the certification so that it is now available to schools in Spanish as well as English. This allows our schools to reach more learners and integrate the curriculum into English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Language Learner (ELL) programs. Teachers and students can easily switch back and forth between English and Spanish. In the future, based on needs and requests, we will add other languages to the list. Get Started Today Ethics should be a part of every school experience. Students who work through the course and earn the certification are better prepared than peers to work in professional environments in an ethical manner. Imagine your learners being able to take home their certifications and show their family what might be their first industry-based certificate. We see this as another path to building a student's workplace confidence in addition to the technical skills and other soft skills our courses teach. For more information about the certification or any of our other courses , contact us today at 913-764-4272 or hello@ctelearning.com . We would be happy to give you a 30-minute demo of any of our courses and show how we can help your school meet STEM education goals.

Few career paths offer the perfect blend of creativity, technology, and lucrative opportunities like animation. As businesses increasingly rely on visual storytelling to capture audience attention, animation has emerged as one of the most exciting and financially rewarding career choices available to young professionals. Let’s take a look at the rise of the animation profession and how our team here at CTeLearning is helping to meet these growing needs at high schools nationwide with our Web and Computer Animation course . The Growing Demand for Animation Professionals The animation industry has experienced unprecedented growth over the past decade, driven by the explosion of digital content across multiple platforms. From blockbuster movies and video games to social media marketing and educational content, animated visuals have become essential tools for communication and engagement. According to industry reports, the global animation market is projected to reach over $587 billion by 2030, creating thousands of new job opportunities for skilled animators. This growth spans multiple sectors, including entertainment, advertising, education, healthcare, and corporate communications, providing animation professionals with diverse career paths and stable employment prospects. Why Animation is an Attractive Career Choice Creative Freedom and Personal Expression Animation offers professionals the unique opportunity to bring ideas to life through visual storytelling. Unlike many traditional careers, animation allows individuals to express their creativity while solving complex problems and communicating important messages. Whether creating characters for a video game or developing commercials, social media content, educational materials or corporate training, animators have the freedom to shape digital storytelling to improve audience experience and engagement. Competitive Salaries and Financial Security One of the most compelling aspects of an animation career is the financial potential, with experienced professionals earning well over $100,000 per year. Specialized roles such as lead animators, animation directors, and technical directors often command high salaries, making animation one of the highest-paying creative fields. Location Independence and Flexible Work Options The digital nature of animation work provides professionals with unprecedented flexibility. Many animators work remotely, collaborate with international teams, and enjoy the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. This location independence has become increasingly valuable, especially as companies embrace remote work policies and seek global talent. Diverse Career Opportunities Animation careers extend far beyond traditional entertainment. Today's animators work in: Entertainment: Creating content for movies, television shows, and streaming platforms Gaming: Developing characters, environments, and effects for video games Digital Marketing: Producing animated advertisements and social media content Education: Creating interactive learning materials and educational videos Healthcare: Developing medical animations and training simulations Corporate Communications: Producing training videos and presentation materials Essential Skills for Animation Success Technical Proficiency Modern animators must master various software applications and technical tools. Industry-standard programs include 2D animation with Weditor or Adobe Animate and 3D animation supported by Adobe After Effects, Maya, Cinema 4D, and Blender. Understanding these 2D and 3D tools allows animators to create professional-quality work that meets industry standards. Artistic Fundamentals Strong drawing skills and understanding of artistic principles remain crucial for animation success. Knowledge of color theory, composition, and the twelve principles of animation (developed by Disney) provides the foundation for creating compelling animated content. Storytelling and Communication Skills Effective animators understand how to use visual elements to tell stories and convey messages. This often begins with storyboarding and script development. These skills require strong communication and the ability to translate complex ideas into engaging visual narratives that resonate with target audiences. Project Management and Collaboration Animation projects often involve multiple team members and tight deadlines. Successful animators develop project management skills, learn to work collaboratively, and understand the importance of meeting client expectations and project timelines. Project teams include animators, sound effects artists, audio engineers, music composers, voice actors, storyboard artists, character creators, scriptwriters, project managers, producers, and directors. There is a place for all talents and passion to come together and create. The Future of Animation Careers Emerging Technologies The animation industry continues to evolve with new technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI). These innovations create exciting opportunities for animators to explore new forms of storytelling and develop cutting-edge content experiences. Increased Demand for Digital Content As businesses recognize the power of visual content in marketing and communication, demand for skilled animators continues to grow. Social media platforms, streaming services, and digital advertising agencies actively seek animation professionals who can create engaging content that captures audience attention. Global Market Expansion The international nature of digital content creation means animation professionals can work with clients and companies worldwide. Animation generates stories that can transcend culture and bring information and engagement to the broadest of audiences. This global market expansion provides unlimited growth potential and diverse project opportunities for skilled animators. Building a Successful Animation Portfolio Success in animation requires a strong portfolio that demonstrates technical skills and creative abilities. Aspiring animators should focus on: Creating diverse projects that showcase different animation techniques Developing a unique artistic style that sets them apart from competitors Building projects that demonstrate problem-solving abilities Including work that shows understanding of different target audiences Regularly updating their portfolio with new projects and improved skills Preparing High School Students for Animation Success Our comprehensive Web and Computer Animation Course is specifically designed to prepare high school students for successful animation careers. This innovative program combines technical training with practical experience, giving students the tools they need to excel in the competitive animation industry. Comprehensive Curriculum Design Our animation course is a media-rich and engaging program that gets learners excited about the world of animation and opens their eyes to potential career paths. The curriculum features tutorials and project-based learning that gives students an opportunity to build projects they can add to college and career-ready portfolios. It is turnkey, meaning teachers can administer the course with no prior animation experience. The course includes comprehensive coverage of fundamental animation concepts, including the 12 Principles of Animation lesson module based on Disney's foundational animation principles. This ensures students understand the theoretical foundations that underpin all professional animation work. Virtual Internship Model We offer an innovative approach to experiential learning with our Virtual Internship Model, which immerses the students in interactive story-based projects that look and feel like a career simulation. This unique project-based learning methodology provides students with a taste of what working in the real world is like, ensuring they develop both technical and soft skills necessary for career readiness. Portfolio Development Focus Understanding that a strong portfolio is essential for animation career success, our program emphasizes practical project creation. Each student is tasked with building their college and career-ready portfolio to prepare for their futures, ensuring graduates have tangible examples of their skills when applying for jobs or college programs.  Industry-Recognized Certifications We go beyond basic education by offering students the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials. These international industry-recognized animation certifications (IIRC), also referred to as Industry-Based Certifications (IBC), are backed by Web Professionals Global , which is the professional association for those who work on the internet tools used daily across industries. These certifications carry significant weight with employers because the standards are developed by industry professionals—including many who are responsible for hiring for their respective companies. These certifications test students for skills, knowledge and aptitude—not simply how well they can study for an exam. Deliver Engaging Animation Curriculum to Your Students For high school students considering animation careers, programs like our Web and Computer Animation Course provide the perfect foundation for success. By combining comprehensive technical training with industry-recognized certifications and practical portfolio development, we help ensure students are well-prepared to enter the competitive animation industry with confidence. To learn more, contact us today at 913-764-4272 or hello@ctelearning.com . Our free 30-minute demo will show you how we can help your students explore this exciting career pathway. Note: If you are a Texas school, ask us about the Web Animation IBC 967 listed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on the 2025-2030 Industry-Based Certification List for Public School Accountability. Our course is TEKS-aligned and provides a simple path for your students to earn the Certified Web Animator Associate (CWAA) credential. Our curriculum and free online animation tool set works with PC, Mac and Chromebook. We also have a curriculum version to support schools that use Adobe Animate.