1. Katherine Bunko Post University

2.  Based in Waterbury, CT and funded by a grant through Naugatuck Valley Community College  Gear Up focuses on increasing the number of students attending post secondary educational programs after high school, and preparing these students for their future success in college.  Through mentoring during the school day, after school programs, and programs during vacation, students are learning life skills and strengthening their critical thinking skills through projects.

3. Adaptive Learning Technology Platforms Problem and Project Based Learning  Used to extend educational opportunities for students in their strengths and / or weaknesses  Allows student and teachers & mentors to monitor and track progress on ALT platforms  Appropriate for this program because it changes the role of teachers& mentors to coaches- to provide extra opportunities to help prepare students for college in and out of the classroom  Used for development of life skills, and complete interdisciplinary lessons in addition to what is learned in the classroom  Problem and Project Based Learning is appropriate for this program because students are learning in a classroom outside of the school day or school year. These projects encourage success in both the classroom and in the real world while preparing students for college.

4. ScanningScenario Building  “The initial and continuing process of reviewing and analyzing current literature, Web sites, and other media to identify and describe noteworthy trends and their possible development and future impacts" (World Future Society, N.D.).  Scenarios are created to "establish thinking about possible futures which can minimize surprises" (Mietzner and Reger, 220), and expand the creators' vision of what can truly be possible.  Scenarios include best case to worst case visions of what could potentially happen (Clardy, 37).

5. PositivesChallenges Prepared for every situation – including crises Research and scenario building can be very time consuming. Provides information for every potential situation, so present decisions can be made. Can’t see the future with creating scenarios- things will not happen exactly how it may be laid out. Can see all truly unimaginable possibilities with all information available. There is always new information, and if scanning is not a consistent process, information may be missed that can hinder future decision making. Seeing very drastic views may not give the clearest vision of the future.

6.  $11.2 million seven-year grant provided by the State of Connecticut funds the Gear- Up Program (City Of Waterbury and NVCC “Gear Up” for $11.2 Million Seven- Year Education Grant).  Gear-Up services the Waterbury Public School district which is underfunded by an estimated $47,443,115 (Thomas, 2015).  Using money to bridge a small fraction of the gap to provide adequate education to ninth and tenth graders in Waterbury Public Schools.

7.  Gear-Up was created to assist and prepare the students of Waterbury Public Schools for college opportunities, many of whom are living in poverty.  The unemployment rate in Waterbury, is presently 9.0% (“Labor Market Information- Most Recent Labor Force Data for Connecticut Towns”).  Only 17.2% of Waterbury residents over 25 have received high school diplomas (Waterbury, Connecticut Census Data – 2010).  There is a direct correlation between the level of education a member of the workforce has, and the unemployment rate. Meaning, those with a high school diploma or less are spending more time unemployed than in any previous generation. (Aud et. Al pg 46).

8. Internet Connectivity Use of Mobile Devices  Provided by Waterbury Public Schools and NVCC (when on the college campus)  Internet access opens the door for students to become self-directed learners (Project Tomorrow).  Used to provide students with extra learning resources and online classes.  Providing students with tablets to connect students to online classes, classmates, mentors, teachers, applications needed to complete assignments, and for research (Project Tomorrow).  Using technology students either have, or need because they do not have access to internet at home.

9.  Re-apply for Grant- beginning in 2020-2021 school year  In 2020-2021, second cohort of students will be in grade six and grade seven  Second cohort will follow same progression as first – seven years, works with two grades of students until high school graduation.

10.  Send survey to students in the first cohort, and their families to receive their feedback on the program  Meet with members of the high school staff and ask for feedback  Meet with all staff that worked with Gear- Up during the first seven years and ask for feedback  Meet with staff at the middle schools to re-connect and begin preparing to transition into middle schools in 2020- 2021  Meet with committee made of first cohort of students, teachers and mentors, and staff from middle schools and high schools to begin preparing for the beginning of the second cohort of students.

11.  Students in Gear-Up at the four high schools should mentor students at the feeder middle schools to plant the college seed for younger students  Gear-Up leaders should present at a professional development at all four high schools to explain purpose of program, get assistance from teachers, and receive feedback as program continues throughout the next three school years.

12.  Adaptive Learning - DreamBox Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved September 3, 2015, from http://www.dreambox.com/adaptive-learning  Bell, S. (2010). Project- Based Learning for the 21st Century: Skills for the Future. Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 83(2), 39-43.  Clardy, A (2011). Six Worlds of Tomorrow: Representing the Future to Popular Culture. World Future Review, 3(2), 37-48.  Computers in Classrooms. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2015, from http://s3.amazonaws.com/pvpost.cdn/shared/content/uploads/2012/ 09/Computers.jpg http://s3.amazonaws.com/pvpost.cdn/shared/content/uploads/2012/ 09/Compu  Creghan, C., & Adair-Creghan, K. (2015). The Positive Impact of Project-Based Learning on Attendance of an Economically Disadvantaged Student Population: a Multiyear Study. Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning,9(2).  EverFi. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2, 2015, from http://www.everfi.com/about  Flemming, B. (2014, April 1). Adaptive Learning Technology: What Is It, Why It Matters. Retrieved September 5, 2015, from http://www.edadventures.com/2014/04/adaptive-learning- technology-matters/

13.  Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) -- Printable. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2015, from http://www2.ed.gov/print/programs/gearup/index.html  GEAR UP. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2015, from http://www.nv.edu/Offices-Departments/Bridge-to-College/GEAR-UP http://www.nv.edu/Offices-Departments/Bridge-to-  Graduation Photograph. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2015, from http://www.rep- am.com/content/articles/2015/06/13/news/local/881265.jpghttp://www.rep-  Hicks, K. (2015, April 12). The Benefits of Adaptive Learning Technology. Retrieved September 5, 2015, from http://www.edudemic.com/how-adaptive-learning-technology-is -being-used-in-online-courses/ http://www.edudemic.com/how-adaptive-learning-technology-is  Interactive Real-World Standards-Aligned Math. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2, 2015, from http://www.brainingcamp.com/  Labor Market Information - Most Recent Labor Force Data for Connecticut Towns. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2015, from http://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi/laus/lmi123.asp  Learn & Teach Typing, Free. (n.d.). Retrieved September 3, 2015, from http://www.typing.com

14.  Mietzner, D., & Reger, G. (2005). Advantages and disadvantages of scenario approaches for strategic foresight. Int. J. Technology Intelligence and Planning, 1(2), 220–239. New Media Consortium. (2015). NMC horizon report: 2015 K-12 Edition. New Media Consortium.  Scanning. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2015, from http://www.wfs.org/node/423http://www.wfs.org/node/423  STEELCASE INTRODUCES - Learning Lab Photo. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2015, from http://tommytoy.typepad.com/tommy-toy-pbt- consultin/2010/12/steelcase-introduces-learning-labs-a- new-concept-in-classroom-furniture-for-todays-college- students.html http://tommytoy.typepad.com/tommy-toy-pbt- 

15.  TenMarks Math - Free for Teachers. (n.d.). Retrieved September 3, 2015, from http://www.tenmarks.com/  Thomas, J. R. (2015, March 5). CT school funding overpays wealthy towns, underpays needier, critics say. The CT Mirror. Retrieved from http://ctmirror.org/2015/03/04/connecticut-school-funding- plan-overpays-wealthy-towns-underpays-neediest-critics-say/ http://ctmirror.org/2015/03/04/  Waterbury, Connecticut Census Data - 2010. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2015, from https://web.archive.org/web/20150923214849/http://www.water buryct.org/filestorage/9588/11325/waterbury_census.jpg https://web.archive.org/web/20150923214849/http://www.water  Waterbury Public Schools, Connecticut - Ballotpedia. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2015, from http://ballotpedia.org/Waterbury_Public_Schools,_Connecticut  Woodward, O. (2012, September 11). Mentoring Matters Photograph. Retrieved October 17, 2015, from http://orrinwoodwardblog.com/wp- content/uploads/2012/09/Mentoring-300x262.gifhttp://orrinwoodwardblog.com/wp-