How do we empower the workforce of tomorrow?

We ignite deep conviction for solving problems that matter.

When she was in 10th grade, Chidalu Aniekwenagbu had little interest in math or other STEM subjects — and she certainly wasn’t considering a STEM-related career. 

Then she closed her textbook, stood up from her desk, and put on a VR headset.

While playing our first Algebra 1 module in virtual reality, Chidalu stepped into the role of a key member of her city's task force to help hospitals determine when they'd be in need of more resources given the growing rate of a virus in her community. 

In her math classroom this year, she will also be stepping into the role of an urban farmer, air traffic controller, hydrologist, and learning foundational quantitative skills through the prisms of these important fields of study in our society. Our hope is that through these experiences Chidalu, and all of our students, will envision a future they want to build and contribute to.

Chidalu went on to sign up for Girls Who Code in summer of 2021 and joined the STEM track at her high school this fall. As an 11th grader who now wants to be an engineer, she shared: “I sat through two years of doing algebra on paper, but I had no structural understanding of the concept until VR.”

From rural to suburban and urban math classrooms across the country, we know that when students see math as connected to their lives, it makes it meaningful — increasing their likelihood to continue with STEM subjects beyond minimum K-12 requirements. It opens their eyes and their imaginations to how these fluencies unlock rewarding career opportunities for their future. 

We can only empower the workforce of tomorrow by igniting deep conviction. Where does such conviction stem from? Through lived experience of problems that give us a glimpse of a better world.

When the Prisms team started to envision what our complete course offering should look like, we knew we wanted to show students first-hand how math helps tackle 21st century challenges of all kinds. We intentionally selected themes that engage students in real-world scenarios where they can develop the creative problem-solving skills to craft solutions for the most important issues facing our planet, our health, our quality of life, and our economies. 

To the inspiring district leaders, teachers and students throughout the country who have joined us as early adopters of Prisms, we’re thrilled you’re on this journey with us. This is just the beginning.

--- Anurupa Ganguly, CEO and Founder of Prisms of Reality