Company: Stride, Inc. Reston, VA
Nomination Submitted by: K12
Company Description: At Stride, Inc., we are reimagining learning—where learning is lifelong, deeply personal, and prepares learners for tomorrow. The company has transformed millions of people’s teaching and learning experiences by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculum, and programs directly to students, schools, the military, and enterprises in primary and secondary ed.
Nomination Category: New Product & Service Categories - Education
Nomination Sub Category: Professional Development Solution
 Nomination Title: Stride, Inc's The Stride Professional Development Center
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the nominated new or new-version product or service, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: If this is a brand-new product, state the date on which it was released. If this is a new version of an existing product, state the date on which the update was released:
The Stride Professional Development Center offers on-demand, bite-sized, and mobile-friendly professional development for busy educators. The initial MVP launched May 2022 with a small catalog of 12 courses but has grown significantly to more than 75 courses and serving nearly 14,000 educators on a new platform (as of September 1, 2023).
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Describe the features, functions, and benefits of the nominated product or service (up to 350 words):
Total 333 words used.
The Stride PD Center provides on-demand learning that delivers a lasting impact. The hallmark of the Stride PD Center is the engaging and authentic courses created by educators, for educators. That is not a simple statement but a true differentiator. The team has been intentionally constructed in that every instructional designer has taught first. That classroom experience shapes both the content and the course design as the team focuses on a learner-centric approach to support teacher growth and school-based implementation.
Successful completion of all requirements generates a certificate that teachers can download and use for recertification purposes. Our courses offerings are placed in six learning categories:
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Instructional Practices
- Leadership
- Project-based Learning
- School Culture
- Student Support
Leveraging 5 microlearning principles, the SPDC maximizes content retention and application:
- Brevity – shorter modules linked together for an hour-long course.
- Convenience – user experience on any device with internet access that saves progress allowing flexibility to start/stop or change device at will.
- Engagement – balanced media to meet multiple learning styles, reflection questions for planning, and checks for understanding with feedback.
- Real-world relevance – incorporated scenarios to aid application by teachers.
- Personalization – takeaway documents, notes, and personal action plans are included.
Beyond courses, the Stride PD Center brings additional value through extended learning opportunities such as blogs, free resources, and curated content. The SPDC annually hosts a large, virtual conference known as Promising Practices. The 2024 event will be hosted on March 1, 2024, for any educator. The format blends live sessions with on-demand instruction and networking opportunities. The best part is that all learning remains accessible the entire month of March.
Finally, knowing that many new teachers quit the profession within their first five years, the SPDC launched an initiative in 2023 that focused on this teacher segment. First-year teachers across the country are provided one year of free access to the Stride PD Center. These tools and resources help them grow personally in their craft and, hopefully, will increase teacher retention.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Outline the market performance, critical reception, and customer satisfaction with the product or service to date. State monetary or unit sales figures to date, if possible, and how they compare to expectations or past performance. Provide links to laudatory product or service reviews. Include some customer testimonials, if applicable (up to 350 words):
Total 350 words used.
The Stride PD Center has grown significantly since launch as the catalog originally included 12 courses but, as of this application’s draft, more than 75 courses are in use. Even with limited marketing, SPDC has nearly 14,000 users on the platform and, in January alone, more than 12,000 new visitors to the site (Source: Google Analytics). We have reached 39 of the 50 states and have seen traffic from Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.
During the initial MVP launch year, we had 810 course completions and then transitioned to a new platform on September 1, 2023. In five months, users have earned more than 5,000 certificates bringing the total, thus far, to 5,888 course completions. One learner, after earning their certificate, said it this way, “I can get in and learn then get out and apply.”
A feedback survey is in each course to hear from our users and work to improve the content and experience. Since the December launch of a series on Artificial Intelligence, we have received more than 500 responses showing not only a demand for the material but also a desire to help us improve.
List below is a sample of feedback left on a variety of our courses.
Course feedback:
“I’ve never been so diligent in taking notes during a training session. This resource is truly exceptional and promises to be invaluable in my professional development. This was truly the best on-demand PD I have ever attended.” Course: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
“The training provided practical tools and techniques for creating a compelling vision statement, and I found the company examples to be very helpful. It was well-paced.” Course: Vision for Leaders
“Such a great course that makes you think about your students and the trauma they may have faced. It made me think about how I sometimes think negatively about a student’s behavior and how I need to instead think about what may be an underlying cause.” Course: Trauma-Informed Classroom 2
“I found the course very thorough, informative, and enlightening.” Course: Tallo for Students
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 70 words used.
Additional user feedback can be found on our - https://stridepdcenter.com/.
The extended learning resources can be viewed here:
- Blogs (2 released each month):https://stridepdcenter.com/all-courses/blog/
- Free Resources (updated monthly): https://stridepdcenter.com/all-courses/free-resources/
- Curated Content (updated monthly and scroll to the bottom of the bottom of the page): https://stridepdcenter.com/category/instructional-practices/
The following link is to the press release announcing the New Teacher Initiative: https://www.k12dive.com/press-release/20230925-new-teachers-get-a-strong-start-with-free-access-to-stride-professional-dev/
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