Equipping the Next Generation With AI Skills

Today we are highlighting an aspect of CTeLearning that many of our clients may not know about: research projects. Although much of our work is focused on providing curriculum to middle schools and high schools, we also work with universities and research groups to support research projects. We recently completed a project with Dr. Jessica Morales-Chicas and Dr. Mauricio Castillo of California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). We have partnered with Dr. Morales-Chicas and Dr. Castillo for years and this project was yet another successful collaboration. Project Overview This project revolved around a research study focused on culturally responsive education. Five focus groups guided youth in reflecting on their identities and imagining culturally responsive mobile apps to support this endeavor. The team at CTeLearning provided the code and curriculum that made it possible for the participants of the study to build their mobile apps. This development work was done on a custom basis for this specific CSULA research project. Participants in the project conceptualized culture in different ways including traditions, customs, language, beliefs and more. All of these factors shaped the culturally responsive coding curriculum. Q&A with Steve We caught up with CTeLearning founder and lead developer Steve Waddell to discuss his team’s experience working on the project. What was the experience like working with CSULA? We have been working with CSULA since 2006. Primarily we have worked with their College of Engineering, Computer Science & Technology, Department of Education, and with their work with local STEM programs. What challenges did the team encounter in building the curriculum? How did the team overcome those challenges? This is much of what we normally do. As curriculum developers we are always looking for ways to engage the learner and get them to viscerally care about the project they are working on. That is just good project-based learning design. What we loved about working with the CSULA team was the chance to add a cultural twist to what we naturally do and to then see how that enhanced the engagement. Increased engagement means increased learning. How rewarding is it to see a completed research project and know CTeLearning played a role in its success? I loved the pride the kids had for where they and their families came from, and how they recognized their values of the importance of family came through so clearly. It was very cool seeing how proud they all were that they had built a mobile-ready app that they were sharing with their families and friends. So, that cultural pride was being shared with the people most important to them. How did CTeLearning get involved working with the research community? It started in 2007 when the state of Kansas asked us to save a WIRED project to develop a workforce training course for biotechnology that had stalled. This introduced us to the local biotechnology and life sciences community, and just a year later we were invited into projects with the regional stakeholders. Today we are working with researchers all over the US and doing projects on vaccine hesitancy, wellness, pediatric cancer, autism, urban health disparities, and more. We have even created projects that are active in Africa. Are there any other thoughts you would like to share? As developers creating courseware to teach careers and how to be successful in industry, I think it is important to have a foot in both worlds. Our work with industry and research keeps us grounded in what it takes to be successful in the work world, and gives us a bit of “street cred.” To learn more, click here for the full article that was published in the Computer Science Education journal in July 2025. If you are a researcher looking for assistance with your research project, reach out to us today.

Frequent readers of our blog know we like to highlight our teachers and students across the country who are doing great work. Today we are highlighting Patrick McLane and his students. Patrick is the Illustration and Design Instructor at the Career Technology Center (CTC) of Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania and will be delivering a new certificate opportunity to his students in Fall 2025 thanks to a new partnership. Recently, career and technical education (CTE) programs in PA schools worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of Career and Technical Education (BCTE) to provide an alternative to Adobe certificates for high school and CTC students. Thanks to this effort, the Certified Web Animator Certificate is now recognized in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) by the state of Pennsylvania. The certificate is part of our Web and Computer Animation course and is backed by Web Professionals Global , our industry partner. Web Professionals Global is the industry association for all web-related careers, and all certifications are created and backed by industry professionals. The Learn and Earn partnership with Web Professionals Global allows students to earn career-building certifications while still in school, and the cost of certifications are underwritten by the CTeLearning partnership with the professional association. Editors’s Note: Formerly known as the World of Webmasters (WOW), Web Professionals Global underwent a rebranding in 2022. Certifications in state listings may still appear under the WOW umbrella. Today, most educators and industry members recognize that WOW is now known as Web Professionals Global. Patrick’s students will be exploring an exciting career pathway and earning certifications that they can take with them in their future educational and professional careers. Another bonus Patrick and his students will enjoy is the fact that the curriculum is PC, Mac and Chromebook ready. It also includes a robust online animation editor tool suite that is free with the curriculum, and there is nothing to install on the student’s device. This will ensure complete flexibility and mobility for all his learners. Let’s hear from Patrick to hear about his experience getting the certificate approved by the state and what he is looking forward to when his students take advantage of this opportunity next fall. What did your advisory committee say when you approached them about adding the Certified Web Animator Certificate and shifting away from offering only an Adobe Photoshop certification? Did they echo your sentiments about wanting to offer more to students? Our Occupational Advisory Committee was in agreement that there needed to be an alternative to the Adobe Certifications as a path to graduation for students. They felt that the Certified Web Animator Certificate was a great option. Not only did it satisfy many of the Digital Imaging requirements of our task list, it offered an opportunity for students to practice and master many soft-skills addressed in our instructional area. One of the stand outs of the Web Professionals Global certifications is their attention to soft skills. The certifications are all about building the whole professional and not someone who is proficient in just a tool or a couple skills. In this case the Web Animator certification also covers ethics, IP, project management, design process, marketing, storyboard, audio, and technical aspects of creating robust animations built on a timeline. What was the process like working with the Pennsylvania Department of Education to get the Certified Web Animator Certificate approved? The process proved to be pretty painless. The documentation of your curriculum was so thorough, it made it easy for us to show alignment with our state task list. The Certified Web Animator Certificate teaches not only animation but also music, sound effects, audio engineering, storyboarding, ethics, critical thinking, and math in the workplace. What do you like about this comprehensive approach to preparing learners? I love the fact that the program incorporates various competencies. The soft skills and professional practice elements of the certification add another level of assessment for those areas of my curriculum. The production areas are an added bonus that help the students develop into more well-rounded professionals and prepare them for the workforce. How does it feel knowing you are giving your students the opportunity to earn certifications that are backed by industry, not just a testing company? It is an excellent addition to my program. Not only does it give students skills that are transferable no matter which platform a potential employer utilizes, it provides opportunities for higher level creative problem solving. What feedback have you received from your administrators about the course change and upgrading the certification options? Our administration is always appreciative when we can offer additional opportunities to students. It helps when they are marketing our program to sending school districts. What would you tell other teachers who may be interested in offering this certification to their students? If you have been searching for an alternative certification path for your students, the Certified Web Animator Certificate is an excellent option whether your program is focused on digital media, web design, or commercial and advertising design. The concepts presented in the program are industry standard and applicable to a wide range of disciplines. Contact us Today For more information about how you can help your students earn career-building certifications, contact us today at 913-764-4272 or hello@ctelearning.com . We would be happy to show you how we can help in a free 20-minute demo.