KnoPro is a free new platform for high school students who want to develop in-demand skills by completing real-world projects for cash and other prizes. The platform is powered by NAF, which is a national education non-profit that has been bringing schools and businesses together since 1980 to better prepare students of all backgrounds. Pulse 2.0 interviewed NAF Vice President of Product & Innovation Lindsey Dixon to learn more about KnoPro.
Lindsey Dixon’s Background
What is your name, title, and background in relation to KnoPro? Dixon said:
“My name is Lindsey Dixon, and I am the VP of Product & Innovation at NAF, a national education non-profit that brings schools and businesses together to better prepare students of all backgrounds for college, career, and future success. Following high school, I joined the U.S. Air Force, where I was a satellite communications technician and earned my AAS in electronic systems technology and a BA in English.”
“After the Air Force, I moved to New York City and became a high school English teacher. Upon earning my master’s degree in education, I pivoted my career to educational technology and learning design at Teachers College, Columbia University.”
“For more than a decade, I have worked for several amazing nonprofits, including my current role at NAF, to help schools and training programs ensure that students are future-ready, with the in-demand skills and social networks that lead to socioeconomic mobility. I created KnoPro alongside my amazing colleagues at NAF. I’m also currently pursuing my doctorate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I’m writing my dissertation on the uses of emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence and machine learning, to help the next generation choose and succeed in strong-fit careers.”
Success Of KnoPro
Since NAF launched KnoPro a year ago, what has been its biggest success? Dixon shared:
“Since we launched KnoPro a year ago, we have already supported over 10,000 students across all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. We have partnered with amazing companies like Lenovo, Amex, KPMG, and more to bring students free, engaging, virtual work-based learning opportunities to boost their resumes and skills and build their knowledge about the careers of the future. We have tremendously high ratings from our teachers, students, and partners when it comes to user satisfaction, skill development, and more.”
“We hear from teachers and students every day about the difference KnoPro is making in their lives. One teacher shared with us that thanks to winning a KnoPro Challenge and receiving a $3,000 award, a student was able to purchase a used car, which enabled her to commute to college. Another teacher told us that one of his students who often shied away from participating in class, won a KnoPro Skillbuilder, and all his classmates clapped for him winning the $100—which really boosted his self-esteem and led to him participating in class regularly! Other students have shared that having a resume bullet that mentions product development or marketing, or business development has opened doors for them with internship and job opportunities.”
Strength Of The New Technology
What makes you most proud of this new technology? Dixon emphasized:
“I’m most proud that we have made KnoPro 100% FREE and have given away over $100,000 directly to students, with ten thousand dollars more given out every month. As a former under-resourced student, I know that opportunities like KnoPro can truly be life-changing, and I’m incredibly proud to be bringing KnoPro to students across the country.”
Helping Students Explore Career Paths
How is KnoPro helping students explore possible career paths? Dixon replied:
“With a heightened national focus on work-based learning and earlier career preparation for high school students, NAF created KnoPro to increase access to rewarding work-based learning and career readiness experiences. We believe that ALL students, whether enrolled in NAF academies or not, deserve this access to opportunity.”
“In partnership with industry leaders and corporations, this interactive tool offers any high school-grade student (i.e., students learning at 9th to 12th-grade level) the tools to tackle real-world problems faced by business leaders, receive expert feedback from industry mentors, grow their professional skills and resumes, and more – with the chance to win cash and other prizes!”
“Using the platform, students have access to engaging content and fun activities to learn from and experience. They gain awareness around different industries and major companies and use their creativity to present ideas and solutions for some of today’s biggest workforce challenges. KnoPro provides an impactful avenue for students to explore different career paths while they are making important decisions about their futures in high school, as well as build social capital and the skills they will need to thrive through challenge topics.”
Benefits Of KnoPro’s Reach
I understand students can use this technology no matter where they live. How is that beneficial for students and maybe giving them a chance to tap into job skills or career opportunities? Dixon pointed out:
“The possibilities are truly endless for student innovation and learning, with the reach that KnoPro provides, as it is helping to revolutionize work-based learning by increasing access to opportunity for any high school student. As a result, they have the unique opportunity to gain professional experience in a way like never before – all at their fingertips!”
“These experiences also help students build both technical and future-ready skills, such as collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and more, that continue to be requested by employers across industry lines and are not only important for high school students, but for other employees to be exposed to potential job opportunities within their organization, and to continue as lifelong learners.”
Challenges On KnoPro
What kind of challenges are students taking on this new technology? Dixon explained:
“Challenges are monthly competitions where students can participate on a team or solo—in school or out! — where big money is on the line just by helping solve a pressing industry or community problem. They’ve covered a variety of hot topics, ranging from everything including how technology can be used to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, in partnership with Lenovo, to our current AI Business Revolution Challenge with KPMG.”
“Up next in 2025 are additional challenges that will explore the worlds of finance, technology, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, tourism, healthcare, and more! Visit https://www.knopro.org/ to keep up with what is to come!”
“Also offered are Daily SkillBuilders, that are fun, 10–15-minute real-world activities designed to increase students’ Future Ready Skills and earn them points and prizes, alongside one daily $100 gift card winner.”
Evolution Of KnoPro’s Technology
How is KnoPro evolving, technologically speaking? Dixon noted:
“We are always looking at what is on the horizon for schools and society and thinking about how to bring more value to students, teachers, communities, and companies through KnoPro. One evolution launching in 2025 will involve the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning features directly into KnoPro. Stay tuned!”
Sponsorship Benefits
Businesses like KPMG are sponsoring KnoPro challenges. What kind of benefits do businesses get from sponsoring KnoPro? How do students benefit from sponsors like KPMG? Dixon answered:
“Examples of benefits for sponsoring businesses, like KPMG, can include advancing work-based learning in their industry; meeting their impact goals with industry projects; building positive brand awareness with today’s students, who will be tomorrow’s workforce leaders; as well as opportunities to mentor and present short-term volunteer opportunities to their staffs.”
“For students, it is exciting and extremely advantageous to take part in KnoPro challenges sponsored by leading industry partners, such as KPMG. The platform not only promotes collaboration for students but also enables them to receive expert feedback from industry mentors, collectively grow their technical and career skills, and boost their resumes.”
“We’ve seen the immense value-add that this has generated, as input from mentors has become one of the benefits of work-based learning that students appreciate the most. Mentors come from companies that sponsor specific challenges and offer guidance, as well as provide feedback on the projects students submit. In turn, being able to interact with a global brand has been a game-changer, and feedback has become an active process that students are excited to engage in.”
AI Challenge
Tell me about this new AI Challenge. Why does it focus on AI and what are the goals for this challenge? Dixon revealed:
“In this challenge, students will dig into the question of how AI can be used to make their favorite business (product, program, or service) even better. KPMG AI Business Revolution Challenge enables them to develop AI solutions that will help businesses grow and make a broader global impact.”
“As we have witnessed, AI is being discussed across every channel where students get information – and they probably have questions about what it is, what it can do, and how it’s going to impact their world going forward. This is a great chance for students to learn how AI can transform industries like healthcare, fashion, and transportation; pitch their ideas; and compete for $10K! AI is certainly here to stay, and it is important for students to gain a better understanding, brainstorm innovative ideas that tackle real-world business problems, and develop problem-solving, communication, and social awareness skills. This challenge is running from now – December 8, 2024.”
Additional Thoughts
Anything else you would like to add? Dixon concluded:
“Just that KnoPro is truly unique, with its blend of being a free, teacher and student co-designed product that offers huge cash rewards and is fun and engaging. While the competition might charge for their similar opportunities or be dull and text-heavy, KnoPro was built for Gen Z and Gen Alpha students who learn best with short videos, engaging articles, and interactive media. That and the opportunity for 100% of KnoPro users to boost their resumes with Fortune 100 companies listed sets us apart.”
