SME Education Foundation empowers 16 SME PRIME Schools with tools to raise up the next generation of manufacturers and engineers.
December 5, 2023 (Southfield, MI) - In the great state of Michigan, educators from 16 SME PRIME Schools are turning to Edge Factor to inspire students and parents with career exploration media and tools. Whether they are in the classroom or at home, every student can log in to Edge Factor’s online platform to access thousands of videos and activities that will guide them to rewarding manufacturing and engineering career pathways.
The SME Education Foundation inspires, prepares, and supports the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent. Since 1979, the SME Education Foundation has worked to bring students, educators, industry, and communities together through its SME PRIME program.
SME PRIME® partners private industry with academia to build custom manufacturing and engineering programs in high schools across the country, providing equipment, curriculum, professional development for educators, scholarships for students and funding for extra-curricular activities and program sustainability.
“The Edge Factor engaging videos, help us put a ‘WOW’ in the SME PRIME educational experience for high school students. The SME PRIME program of manufacturing education and career preparation provides a unique, community-informed, manufacturing and engineering learning opportunity for high school students. In partnership with their school educators and regional industry participants, students engage in educational experiences that directly transfer to manufacturing employment in their own backyard. The strongest learning outcomes are achieved with engaged students and Edge Factor videos enhance the SME PRIME learning experiences, positioning students to achieve those successes.” - Shelley Wooley, Ed.D. Director, Education Programs
Following on the heels of their earlier successful development of 16 SME PRIME programs through a 2021 Michigan education budget appropriation, the SME Education Foundation announced an additional expansion of its public/private partnership with the State of Michigan last month, enabling placement of an additional 16 SME PRIME programs in schools throughout the state, bringing the total to 49 SME PRIME in Michigan. As part of the SME PRIME curriculum resources, the Foundation provided site licenses to each of the initial 16 SME PRIME schools, offering every student, educator, school counselor, and faculty member premium Edge Factor memberships!
Edge Factor, a career and workforce development platform, inspires learners of all ages to explore, prepare, and connect on their career journey. With thousands of videos, interactive activities, lesson plans, badges, and more, premium memberships to Edge Factor unlock a vast library of career media and gamified experiences. All of the content and features included in the Edge Factor platform follow the four phases of the Career Journey: Inspiration, Exploration, Preparation, and Connection.
In Edge Factor's captivating Inspiration content, learners are ignited with the spark to embark on their career journey. They immerse themselves in award-winning films showcasing real-life success stories, motivational videos that fuel their aspirations, and even comedic music videos for a dose of inspiration and humor.
Transitioning to the Exploration content, students dive deep into industries, careers, and training programs through virtual field trips, gaining insights into 'a day in the life' of professionals, and equipping themselves with valuable insights into the world of work.
In the Preparation content, students gear up for the real-world job market by honing both transferable soft skills and essential technical hard skills. They discover how the dynamic fusion of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) powers various professions.
Finally, the Connection content serves as the bridge, linking students and job-seekers to local training and career opportunities. Accessing Touchpoints added by schools and companies in their community, they can learn about local opportunities, forging connections that will shape their future success.
SME Education Foundation sponsored the following schools with a one-year Edge Factor Premium K-12 membership starting in September 2022, Edwardsburg High School, East Jackson High School, Three Rivers High School, Airport Community Schools, Ecorse Community High School, Troy High School, West Ottawa High School, Innovation Central High School, Rudyard Area High School, Hancock Central High School, William D. Ford Career Technical Center, Cheboygan High School, Bay City Western High School, Alpena High School, Genesee Career Institute and Southfield High School for Arts and Technology.
“We are delighted and proud to partner with SME PRIME and SME Education Foundation,” said Larissa Hofman, Vice President of Edge Factor, “Our partnership is all about complimenting the amazing SME PRIME programs in each of these schools with engaging e-learning tools that showcase manufacturing careers and technology! While we are meeting the specific needs of manufacturing and engineering programs, Edge Factor's extensive library spans every industry. This means that every CTE (Career and Technical Education) instructor, School Counsellor and STEAM educator in these schools can tap into our premium library, enriching every classroom experience with career media and activities."
Students and educators from the 16 schools can log in anywhere, at any time, on any device, with unlimited K-12 access to Edge Factor’s online platform and support services. This makes Edge Factor a great tool for SME PRIME School’s educators to use during in-person classroom environments and as an independent learning resource.
Edge Factor has aligned our multimedia tools with the SME’s PRIME pathways that include, Metrology & Quality, Additive Manufacturing, Computer Aided Design (CAD) & Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Machining & Fabrication, Industrial Maintenance, Mechatronics & Robotics and Welding.
Thank you to the SME Education Foundation through their SME PRIME program for equipping educators with powerful resources to inspire, engage, and teach students about the extraordinary world of manufacturing!
Learn More About the SME Education Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of SME, the SME Education Foundation inspires, prepares, and supports the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent. Established in 1979, the Foundation works with public and private partners to expose youth to modern manufacturing technologies, train students on relevant manufacturing concepts and processes, and subsidize their pursuit of a post-secondary education in the manufacturing or engineering field. All Foundation programming seeks to increase engagement with historically underrepresented populations to help diversify the manufacturing industry.
Visit the SME Education Foundation at smeef.org.
About Edge Factor
As a leader in workforce and career development solutions, Edge Factor uses the power of storytelling to inspire people to explore, prepare, and connect on their Career Journey. Our platform offers schools, families, companies, and service providers access to a vast library of films, videos, activities, lesson plans, badges, and career tools. Through partnerships, global events, and film shoots, Edge Factor enriches our multimedia library with inspiring stories, career content, and gamified learning experiences. Answering national workforce challenges with community-based solutions, Edge Factor brings together organizations and families to support learners of all ages in achieving their career goals and launching rewarding pathways.
Visit the Edge Factor platform at edgefactor.com