Arc Skills, the world’s first lifelong learning company, which is set to expand its courses across the UAE, has been awarded the coveted International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Seal of Alignment for its Soar Values programme, joining a select group of companies, including Google and Microsoft.
Arc Skills, which offers lifelong learning courses that support the growth of skills needed at every stage of life from student to graduate to professional, already operates in the UAE and has trained around1,200 students across various schools.
Soar Values, which has just been launched, helps children in grades one to five (for junior school children aged five to nine) identify and understand core values through teacher-led immersive storytelling and gamification. The programme helps young children discover who they are, how to get along with others and learn what is right and wrong through the identification of values. Using blended learning techniques, the Soar pathway integrates into the school curriculum, and progressively teaches children a range of values, virtues, skills and career paths that will stand them in good stead for life.
Arc Skills’ other Soar programmes – Soar Virtues, Soar Skills and Soar Careers – help youngsters discover and strengthen their social and emotional virtues, develop awareness and understanding of career-based competencies and learn the basic skills for the most in-demand careers.
Arc Skills CEO Mithun Kamath said:
“Through the Soar Values programme we are helping lay a foundation of social and emotional intelligence that can help a new generation of Emiratis lead rich, fulfilled and productive lives. We’re delighted that our focus on preparing students with the skills to navigate an uncertain future at work has been recognised.
“This seal will give our course deep-rooted credibility and proof of adaptability for global markets as we look to form partnerships with schools across the world. It will help accelerate the rate at which we are able to bring the course to young people for whom these skills will make a huge difference.”
Mindy Frisbee, Director of Alignment, ISTE, said:
“We are delighted to award the ISTE Seal of Alignment to the Soar Values programme. The Soar Values programme provides an effective introduction to Digital Citizenship for younger elementary students, and helps lay a solid foundation that can be readily expanded and elaborated on as students mature.
“By awarding a Seal of Alignment, ISTE verifies that Soar Values promotes critical technology skills, supports the use of technology in appropriate ways, contributes to the pedagogically robust use of technology for teaching and learning and aligns to the ISTE Standards as described in its review finding report.”
To receive the ISTE Seal of Alignment Arc Skills underwent a rigorous three round review process over four months. The reviews were conducted by a panel of education and instructional experts who used data collected both separately and collectively to determine how solutions address ISTE Standards. This establishes Soar Values as a global programme and it is an endorsement of product quality and adaptability for global markets.
